Ovarian carcinoma. The significance of restaging laparotomies with negative outcomes

R. K. Potkul, G. Delgado, E. S. Petrilli and A. Yageric

The role of restaging laparotomy in the treatment of ovarian carcinoma is currently being reevaluated. This study was initiated to examine the predictive value of a negative outcome. Between November 1974 and October 1983, sixty-three patients with no clinical evidence of disease underwent 70 restaging laparotomies for ovarian carcinoma. The findings of 34 (49%) of these procedures were negative for residual disease. Patient follow-up ranged from 30 to 137 months. Twenty-eight patients are alive with no evidence of disease with a median follow-up of 62 months. Four patients have died of a second primary tumor. Only two patients had recurrence of their ovarian carcinoma following restaging laparotomy with negative findings (recurrence rate, 5.9%; 13.3% for patients with advanced disease). Patients with negative findings at restaging laparotomy have an excellent prognosis and a good chance of being cured of their disease.