Treatment of the Common Epithelial Cancers

Abstract

Tumors that originate in the surface epithelium and ovarian stroma constitute 75 to 90% of primary ovarian cancers. Only about 8% of these cancers occur in women under the age of 35, but figures indicate that this number may be increasing. Most common epithelial cancers develop in patients between 40 and 60. Nevertheless, the patient is at risk throughout her entire life to develop cancer of the ovary. Conservative surgery is not indicated in this group, nor should it be considered. Treatment consists in an exploratory laparotomy, washings for cytology, scraping biopsy of the diaphragm, total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO), omentectomy, appendectomy, sampling of paraaortic and pelvic lymph nodes, and instillation of ³²P if it is thought to be indicated. Chemotherapy has been added to the protocol for prophylaxis of stages I and II where the disease has been macroscopically removed and as definitive therapy for stages II and IV.