Role of cytoreductive surgery in recurrent ovarian cancer

Abstract

Cytoreductive surgery is well established in patients with primary ovarian cancer. The benefit of surgery in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer remains a controversial matter. There is a large heterogeneity in surgical results published in the literature, possibly caused by infrastructure, surgeons’ philosophy and belief in adding various surgical skills. This might also be a result of different preoperative selection procedures. Further questions to be addressed are the definition of surgical end points and whether there are predictive factors for a successful surgery. The surgical end point in recurrent ovarian cancer should be complete resection. Predictive factors could help identify patients in whom complete resection is possible.