[Treatment of primary and recurrent ovarian cancer]

Abstract

With 550 new cases/year ovarian cancer constitutes 3% of all cancers among women. The unspecific symptoms cause delayed diagnosis and hence poor survival rates. Screening initiatives have been disappointing. In order to accelerate diagnosis and correct surgical management, patients are referred to centralized, specialized units. The primary treatment comprises surgical total cytoreduction followed by platinum-based chemotherapy. Newer biological agents are added when randomized trials have shown a benefit. Recurrence is managed by chemotherapy alone or repeated radical surgery followed by chemotherapy.