Preoperative irradiation in stage III carcinoma of the ovary

A series of 456 patients with malignant epithelial tumours of the ovary clinical stage III is presented. Of these, 96 were initially inoperable, and 49 had a clinical diagnosis of inoperable disease at the first examination. After 3000 rads external highvoltage irradiation it was found possible to remove the primary tumour, the uterus and the omentum in 36 (38%) of the previously inoperable patients. Of the 49 patients who had only a clinical diagnosis of inoperability, only four were inoperable at laparotomy performed three weeks after completion of 3000 rads external radiotherapy. The five year survival rate for the whole series was 16%.