Tumour Load in Advanced Ovarian Cancer Patients and Its Validation by Radiological Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI)...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Radiology

Background:

• Advanced ovarian cancer often presents with peritoneal carcinomatosis, posing challenges for surgical management.
• Accurate assessment of tumor burden is crucial for surgical planning and predicting outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the radiological Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) score against the surgical PCI score.
• To assess the non-invasive predictive capability of radiological PCI for surgical outcomes in advanced ovarian cancer.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study involving 26 patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer.
• Radiological PCI scores were determined pre-operatively and compared with intra-operative surgical PCI scores.
• Correlation analysis and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess agreement and bias.

Main Results:

• The interclass correlation between radiological and surgical PCI was 0.52 (95% CI: 0.17-0.75).
• A radiological PCI score <10 was associated with 90% chance of no residual disease, shorter operative times, reduced blood loss, and fewer complications.
• The Bland-Altman plot showed a bias of 1.115 (95% CI: 4.61) between the two scoring methods.

Conclusions:

• The radiological Peritoneal Cancer Index is an effective non-invasive tool for predicting surgical success and residual disease in advanced ovarian cancer.
• Utilizing radiological PCI can assist in optimizing surgical timing and planning for patients with advanced ovarian cancer.