EVALUATION OF OVARIAN CHANCER BY SECOND‐LOOK LAPAROTOMY AFTER TREATMENT

In the five‐year period 19/75 to 1979, 234 patients entered the Royal Brisbane Hospital Consultative Ovarian Carncer Clinic's management programme. Thirty‐six patients were considered suitable for e valuation by a subsequent laparotomy following completion of the treatment programme. The clinic's protocol for second‐look surgery and its results are presented. The findings, from the protocol‐based surgery were accurate in 23 of 24 patients (96%) on the basis of subsequent follow‐up, and surgery was free of complications in 33 of 36 patients (92%). The objectives of management are reviewed, and a recommendation about the timing of surgery is made. In all cases there must be individualization of treatment.