Is the Decision for Colorectal Resection Justified by Histopathologic Findings: A Prospective Study of 100 Patients with Advanced Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Objective. We compare the indication for colorectal resection in patients with advanced ovarian cancer with histopathologic findings. We describe the effect on pelvic control and morbidity associated with surgery.Methods. Between February 1995 and March 2001, 100 patients with FIGO stage IIIc ovarian cancer underwent pelvic en bloc resection with excision of the rectosigmoid colon as part of primary or secondary cytoreductive surgery. Decision for resection was made by the surgeon when tumor involvement of the cul-de-sac was suspected. Rectosigmoid infiltration was histopathologically defined as infiltration of the serosa or deeper.Results. In 73 of 100 patients (73%) tumor involvement of the rectum was confirmed histopathologically: infiltration of the serosa in 28 (28%) patients, infiltration of the muscularis in 31 (31%) patients, and infiltration of the mucosa in 14 (14%) patients; in 27 (27%) patients no infiltration was found. Histopathologically confirmed pelvic R0 resection was achieved in 85 (85%) patients. In 11 (11%) patients the pelvic resection margins were tumor-involved and in four (4%) patients visible parametric tumor remained in situ. Pelvic recurrence occurred in 4 (4.7%) of 85 optimally debulked patients compared with 9 (60%) of 15 patients with suboptimal pelvic resection status (P < 0.05). End colostomy could be prevented in 94 (94%) of 100 patients.Conclusion. Pelvic en bloc surgery with rectosigmoid resection was justified by histopathologic outcome since deperitonealization with preservation of the rectosigmoid would have left tumor in situ in 73% of patients with suspected cul-de-sac involvement.