Optimum surgical staging and rational use of radiodiagnostic methods in case of ovarian carcinomas (stages III and IV)

: Pretherapeutic informations furnished by surgery and histopathology are of special importance for the local high voltage therapy of the operated ovarial carcinoma. The intraoperative state does not only confirm the diagnosis, but also reveals the full biologic extension of the tumor and, thus, the correct staging. Extensive supplementary radiodiagnostic examinations are necessary if the informations furnished by the surgeon are not complete. Between February 1977 and February 1981, we treated 55 patients suffering from ovarial carcinomas with a combined simultaneous radio-chemotherapy (45 patients with stage III and 10 with stage IV). The first operations had been performed at gynecologic departments of other hospitals in 60% of all cases, at surgical departments of other hospitals in 20% of all cases and at the II. Gynecologic Clinic of the University of Vienna in only 20% of all cases. The definitive staging was established by postoperative analyses of X-ray views of the chest, liver-spleen scintigrams, ultrasonic examination, computed tomography, lymphoscintigraphy and lymphography. 36 women were submitted to an early therapeutic second operation. It turned out that in most of all cases the retroperitoneal manifestations were correctly recognized by the different radiodiagnostic methods; histopathology was superior in only 8% of all cases. The rate of retroperitoneal metastases is 45% out of the total collective and 40% out of patients in stage III. With the therapy method applied, the survival time does not depend upon the retroperitoneal state as long as there are no tumor manifestations with a maximum diameter of more than 2 cm. The liver metastases described after the first operation do not necessarily correspond to such manifestations; often they are rather tumorous peritoneal layers. More attention should be given to the state of the subdiaphragmatic region, because manifestations in this region are an unfavorable diagnostic factor. Patients in stage III have possibly still curative chances. A careful surgical exploration and a close co-operation between surgery, histopathology, radiodiagnosis and clinical examination are not only a basis for a rational treatment but will also exempt patients from unnecessary or cumbersome examinations.