The role of computed tomography in planning surgical treatment of peritoneal dissemination from ovarian carcinoma

Introduction: Ovarian carcinomas primarily disseminate within the peritoneal cavity which their in the first line treatment is surgical. To make surgical treatment successful, it includes cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The role of abdominopelvic radiology exams in this case is to evaluate peritoneal carcinomatosis so that surgical treatment can be conducted. Aim: To signify at computed tomography (CT) scan in detection of peritoneal carcinomatosis measured as the peritoneal carcinomatosis index(PCI). Materials and methods: The study group consisted of 21 female patients in which it was histopathologically verified ovarian carcinoma starting from January 2014 to February 2015. Average age of group population is 57. All CT scanning examinations were performed with 128-slice Toshiba CT scanner after oral and intravenous administration of contrast material. The criteria for the identification of a peritoneal metastasis was the presence of a nodular, plaquelike, or infiltrative soft-tissue lesion in the peritoneal fat or on the peritoneal surface later compared with histopathological index of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Conclusion: Although computed tomography does not always give full precise results its purpose is still useful in patient's evaluation with the suspicion of peritoneal dissemination especially in the absence of other more sensitive and accurate imaging modalities.