Open AccessSecond‐look laparotomy in the management of fallopian tube carcinoma
Author(s) -
Cormio Gennaro,
Gabriele Antonio,
Maneo Andrea,
Marzola Marta,
Lissoni Andrea,
Mangioni Costantino
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0412.1997.tb07995.x
Subject(s) - laparotomy , medicine , surgery , fallopian tube , stage (stratigraphy) , general surgery , chemotherapy , carcinoma , paleontology , biology
Objective. To evaluate the role of second‐look laparotomy following platinum‐based combination chemotherapy in patients with fallopian tube carcinoma. Methods. A retrospective chart review was conducted on 21 patients with tubal carcinoma who underwent second‐look laparotomy following cytoreductive surgery and platinum‐based combination chemotherapy. Results. Thirteen patients (62%) were found to be free of disease at second‐look operation. Neither stage nor grade were predictive of findings at second‐look procedure. The absence of gross residual disease following primary surgery was the only predictor of disease‐free status at second‐look laparotomy ( p <0.01). With a mean follow‐up of 49 months among the survivors, four (31%) of the patients with negative second‐look laparotomy have had a recurrence. The median survival following a positive second‐look laparotomy was 18 months (range 5–42 months). Conclusion. Second‐look laparotomy provides useful prognostic information in patients with tubal carcinoma. The high rate of recurrent disease after negative second‐look laparotomy, and the lack of an effective second‐line treatment in patients with persistent disease, represent major criticisms of this procedure.