Nutritional evaluation of gynecologic cancer patients during initial diagnosis of their disease.

Ninety-seven gynecologic cancer patients received a thorough nutritional assessment during the initial evaluation of their disease. Patients with Stages III and IV ovarian cancer were shown to have severe protein-calorie malnutrition (p less than 0.01) unrelated to any gastrointestinal obstruction or laparotomies. Patients with other types of gynecologic cancers at all stages demonstrated nearly normal nutritional assessment parameters, with the exception of recent weight loss. Nutritional assessment and active nutritional intervention therapy are suggested especially for patients with advanced ovarian cancer.