Role of chest CT in the follow-up of ovarian adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE, We describe the prevalence of metastatic chest disease in ovaria n adenocarcinoma as seen on CT. We sought to determine whether routine ches t CT added any pertinent information to the follow-up examination of patien ts with ovarian adenocarcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Retrospective review of our tumor registry yielded 9 6 patients with ovarian adenocarcinoma who had only a single primary malign ancy and at least one CT scan of the chest. abdomen, and pelvis. CT scans w ere reviewed to assess the presence of metastatic chest disease in relation to disease activity in the abdomen and pelvis. Chest CT findings were corr elated with the physical examination findings and CA-125 levels and were re viewed in consultation with a gynecologic oncologist to select only those p atients with chest abnormalities attributable to metastatic disease. RESULTS. A total of 266 CT scans were obtained. Forty (41.7%) of the 96 pat ients had abnormalities attributable to metastatic chest disease on one or more scans. In the absence of disease progression in the abdomen and pelvic , chest disease progression was seen in only six (2.7%) of the 226 follow-u p CT scans. Five of the six patients had rising CA-125 levels. CONCLUSION. Correlation of the findings of abdominal and pelvic CT with the physical findings;Ind the CA-125 levels serves as effective follow-up in p atients with ovarian adenocarcinoma. The contribution or additional chest C T in these patients is small.