Whole abdominal irradiation for carcinoma of the ovary

A selected group of 39 patients with ovarian carcinoma were treated by whole abdominal radiation therapy with a pelvic boost. No statement as to the efficacy of this treatment program can be made for patients with Stage I, II, and IV disease because of the small number of patients with those stages who were treated by this method. A surprising 30% 5-year survival was obtained, however, in patients with Stage III disease. The challenge of ovarian carcinoma lies in the advanced stage of disease in most patients at the time of diagnosis.