Cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer

Abstract

Cytoreductive surgery is a crucial component of the management of cancer of the ovary. Surgical cytoreduction of ovarian cancer volume has been associated with an increase in survival in all settings in which it has been studied. This association seems strongest, and the benefits of aggressive surgery are generally greatest, in patients with chemosensitive disease. Effective surgical management of ovarian cancer, therefore, requires competence in surgical anatomy and cytoreductive techniques and a thorough understanding of the patient's disease status and therapeutic goals.