The second-look surgical reassessment for epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

The second-look surgical reassessment is currently being performed on most patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma after first-line chemotherapy if they are clinically free of disease. Ninety-six patients who underwent such procedures at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Naval Hospital, Bethesda, from January 1974 through May 1982 are reviewed. The grade of tumor, stage of disease, and amount of residual tumor remaining after initial surgery are predictive of the findings of the surgical reassessment. While a surgical reassessment is beneficial in evaluating response to therapeutic modalities under protocol investigation, its use should be individualized.