[Is routine second-look operation justified for stage I ovarian cancer?]

The results and role of second-look operation (SLO) were evaluated in 33 patients with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer. 1. At SLO, histological evidence of disease was not identified in any of 24 patients, but washing cytology showed class III in 2 patients. 2. Only one (4.5%) patient with stage Ic (washing cytology: positive) has had a recurrence following negative SLO. 3. Recurrent tumor developed in 2 (33.3%) of the stage Ic (capsular invasion) patients and 1 (16.7%) of the stage Ic (washing cytology: positive) patient, but all patients with stage Ia or Ic (surgically ruptured by surgeon) are alive without recurrence. 4. Based on this experience, our current recommendation for patients with stage Ia or Ic (surgically ruptured by surgeon) epithelial ovarian cancer following comprehensive staging surgery and primary chemotherapy is that they do not require routine SLO.