Second-look laparotomy in the patient with minimal residual stage III ovarian cancer (a Gynecologic Oncology Group study)

One hundred eighty-six patients with minimal residual Stage III ovarian cancer (tumor mass ⩽3 cm) were treated in a prospective randomized protocol (melphalan with or without Corynebacterium parvum). As per protocol 84 patients were eligible and underwent a second-look laparotomy with 41 (49%) having negative findings for persistent malignancy. Factors which affected survival after second look were presence or absence of macroscopic disease, age, and grade. Depending upon these prognostic factors, survival at 4 years after second look ranged from 31 to 100%. The role of second-look laparotomy is examined relative to these results.