Characterization and survival of patients with serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovaries.

Factors affecting survival of 241 patients with ovarian serous carcinoma diagnosed and/or treated at New York University Medical Center from 1960 through 1980 are analyzed. Characteristics independently correlated with a favorable prognosis include low tumor stage and grade, presenting sign of a mass, and omentectomy. Patients under 50 years of age have a lower mortality rate (corrected for stage and grade) than older women. The presenting complaints of patients with a poor survival include nausea and/or vomiting, anorexia, and abdominal swelling. For patients with stage I disease neither bilaterality (stage Ib versus Ia) nor transcapsular extension of tumor adversely affected prognosis. However, patients with stage I disease with ascites appear to have a survival experience similar to patients with stage III disease.