Reexploration after treatment for ovarian carcinoma

Sixty-five patients with documented ovarian carcinoma who underwent a second exploratory celiotomy between 1969 and 1978 are presented. In 50 patients the second surgery followed appropriate staging, reduction surgery, and appropriate therapy. These patients could be divided into two groups: The first group consists of 24 patients who had no clinical or radiographic evidence of residual disease after appropriate therapy; the second group consists of patients explored after regression of disease, but with suspected or known residual (26 patients). No evidence of tumor was found in 21 of the 24 (27.5%) patients in the first group. Only one patient with a negative second-look operation developed a recurrence, and represents the only death from disease in the group. In the second group only 27% of the patients explored and found to have residual disease are alive. There were no surgical deaths or major surgical complications in either group. Indications and the operative technique for a second-look procedure are discussed.