Abdominopelvic irradiation for persistent advanced ovarian carcinoma

The efficacy and toxicity of abdominopelvic irradiation following chemotherapy and positive second look laparotomy was assessed in 15 patients with advanced ovarian epithelial carcinoma. The patients received 30 Gy abdominal and 50.4 Gy pelvic irradiation. Three of ten patients with minimal disease are disease-free 30+, 72+, and 78+ months following therapy. A fourth patient survives disease-free 24+ months following third laparotomy. No patient with bulky disease is disease-free. Bowel obstruction was encountered in 5 of 15 patients; all episodes were associated with recurrent tumor. Abdominopelvic irradiation can potentially sterilize minimal volume ovarian carcinoma that persists following chemotherapy.