[Intestinal metastasis and surgery in ovarian cancer: analysis of 62 cases]

Sixty-two cases of ovarian cancer with intestinal metastatic tumors larger than 2 cm in diameter were treated from January, 1982 to October, 1987, accounting for 28.1% of a total of 221 cases of ovarian cancer admitted during the same period. Metastasis to the large intestine was observed in all 62 cases, of which the rectosigmoid was involved in 59(95.2%). Metastasis to the small bowel was observed in 26. A complete or optimal resection of the intraperitoneal tumors was achieved in 46(74.2%). Resection of the metastatic tumors of intestine was performed in 40 cases. Resection of the bowel was carried out in 22 and a colostomy was done in 6. During followup, 17 patients (27.4%) survived, 39 died and 6 had recurrent disease. The mean survival time for 17 patients achieving complete remission was 30.3 months. Of these, 10 have survived for more than 2 years and 7 for more than 3 years. The role and feasibility of bowel surgery in the treatment of ovarian cancer are discussed.