Role of CT in the management of recurrent ovarian cancer.

Overview

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential role of preoperative CT in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer who undergo secondary cytoreductive surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Preoperative CT examinations of 36 consecutive patients (age range, 30-75 years; mean age, 55 years) were reviewed retrospectively. Patients had recurrent ovarian cancer and secondary cytoreduction within a mean CT-surgery interval of 22 days (range, 2-69 days). The CT findings recorded were upper abdominal metastases (e.g., peritoneal carcinomatosis; perihepatic, perisplenic, gastrohepatic or gastrosplenic ligaments; gallbladder fossa; falciform ligament; lesser sac), lymphadenopathy (above or below the renal hilum), liver metastasis, large- and small-bowel obstruction, hydronephrosis, ascites, and the presence of a pelvic mass. CT findings and cancer antigen-125 (CA-125) levels were correlated with surgical resectability. RESULTS: At surgery, tumors in 27 patients were optimally debulked (residual disease of