IS LAPAROTOMY FOR STAGING EARLY OVARIAN-CANCER AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY

Study Objective. To demonstrate that palpation of the omentum, mesente ry, and intestine can be omitted from the laparoscopic staging of stag e I carcinoma of the ovary. Design. Retrospective analysis of 223 wome n with stages III and IV ovarian cancer treated by laparotomy. Setting Gynecological Oncology Clinic, M. Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer In stitute of Oncology, Warsaw, Poland. Interventions. Observation of mac roscopic spread of tumor to areas accessible to laparoscopic inspectio n versus spread to areas inaccessible to laparoscopic evaluation. Meas urements and Main Results. Macroscopically detectable disease in the a reas easily accessible to laparoscopic inspection was present in all c ases of metastases to the mesentery, omentum, or intestine. Conclusion . The diagnosis of FIGO stage I ovarian cancer can be made with confid ence if laparoscopic inspection of certain areas reveals no evidence o f metastases.