COMPARATIVE TRIAL OF CT SCAN AND SURGERY FOR TUMOR ASSESSMENT IN OVARIAN-CARCINOMA

Purpose :To evaluate the results of an abdomino-pelvic scan in cancers of the ovary in comparison with surgery. Material and methods : We re viewed the observations concerning patients operated on for malignant tumors of the ovary between January 1992 and April 1995 in our anti-ca ncer center. We selected 32 patients who had had both a complete surgi cal abdominal exploration (laparotomy or laparoscopy) and an abdominal pelvic scan in the preceding months. We divided the abdomen into 33 a reas and compared the scan of each one with the surgical findings. Two cancer radiologists, including one gynecology specialist, studied the imaging separately. Neither knew the results of the surgical observat ions. Results : Imaging findings varied with localization tumor size a nd presence or not of ascites radiologists. For certain localization, detection of lesions was difficult for both readers (pancreas, spleen, stomach), for others, recognition improved with experience (bowel, di aphragm, colon). Conclusion : The clinician must be aware of the varia bility of ovarian cancer assessment by CT scan, particularly if imagin g alone is being used to guide treatment.