Cytoreductive Surgery in Ovarian Carcinoma Patients with a Documented Previously Complete Surgical Response

Recurrent ovarian cancer after negative findings at second-look laparotomy is common. A retrospective review of 57 patients who developed recurrent tumor after a negative second-look laparotomy was undertaken to evaluate treatment efficacy and prognostic factors. All patients received primary platinum-based chemotherapy. Recurrences occurred in the abdomen or pelvis (40 patients), lymph nodes (7), liver (4), lungs (3), and vagina (3). Recurrent disease was diagnosed at a mean interval of 20 months after second-look surgery. Of the 38 patients who underwent laparotomy for recurrence, 36 (95%) had >0.5 cm disease. After cytoreductive surgery 14 patients (37%) were left with minimal (