Efficacy of second-look laparotomy for patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

Second-look laparotomies (SLL) were performed on 42 patients with ovarian carcinoma. Ten (24%) had residual disease. Serum CA 125 values before SLL predicted the presence of residual tumors, but its relatively high false negative rate made it unable to take place of SLL. Positive peritoneal cytology at initial surgery significantly influenced SLL results in patients with early disease. Residual pelvic lesions at initial surgery seemed to resist subsequent chemotherapy. Salvage therapy with external pelvic irradiation was effective on lesions confined to the pelvis without serious toxicity. Patients with advanced disease, undergoing SLL achieved better survival than without SLL. This study shows SLL is still the most accurate procedure in assessing the efficacy of treatment, and useful in selecting second-line therapy.