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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Quantitation of Intra-peritoneal Ovarian Cancer Metastasis
Published on: July 18, 2016
Is laparotomy for staging early ovarian cancer an absolute necessity?
M Possover1, M Mader, J Zielinski
1Frauenklinik, Klinik am Eichert, Postgraduate Clinic of University Ulm, 73006 Göppingen, Germany.
Study Objective:
To demonstrate that palpation of the omentum, mesentery, and intestine can be omitted from the laparoscopic staging of stage I carcinoma of the ovary.
Design:
Retrospective analysis of 223 women with stages III and IV ovarian cancer treated by laparotomy.
Setting:
Gynecological Oncology Clinic, M. Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Institute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland.
Interventions:
Observation of macroscopic spread of tumor to areas accessible to laparoscopic inspection versus spread to areas inaccessible to laparoscopic evaluation.
Measurements And Main Results:
Macroscopically detectable disease in the areas easily accessible to laparoscopic inspection was present in all cases of metastases to the mesentery, omentum, or intestine.
Conclusion:
The diagnosis of FIGO stage I ovarian cancer can be made with confidence if laparoscopic inspection of certain areas reveals no evidence of metastases.
