ULTRASOUND IN THE FOLLOW-UP OF YOUNG-PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT OVARIAN-TUMORS AFTER CONSERVATIVE SURGERY

Ultrasound examinations were performed as a step in the follow-up of 6 2 patients previously treated with conservative surgery for malignant ovarian tumors. With a minimal follow-up period of 36 months (range 36 -129) 12 recurrences of disease were observed in nine patients. When c ompared to other routine follow-up procedures, ultrasound examination proved to be the most effective procedure in the monitoring of these p atients, correctly detecting ten recurrences. Physical and gynecologic al examinations detected seven, tumor marker measurements detected six and chest X-rays detected one. Ultrasound examination was 83% sensiti ve, 99% specific and 99% accurate in the detection of recurrent diseas e. In four recurrences leading to death, the diameters of the tumors a t first detection were 25, 50, 50 and 100 mm, significantly higher (p = 0.03) than in seven recurrences followed by complete response of the tumor (range 15-35 mm, median 30 mm). Ultrasound appears to be superi or to physical and gynecological examination in early detection of rec urrence; considering that smaller burdens of tumor at the time of recu rrence seem to imply a better prognosis, ultrasound should be consider ed as a useful additional procedure in the follow-up of these patients .