Carcinoma of the ovary.

The data for this paper are based on 50 patients discharged from the Queen of Angels Hospital with a diagnosis of carcinoma of the ovary from 1972 to 1978.Currently, ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death of all pelvic malignancies. Peak incidence of ovarian cancer is found in women between 40 to 65 years of age. Symptomatology includes often vague abdominal discomfort, dyspepsia, and other digestive disorders which may be present for several months prior to diagnosis.The workup for suspected ovarian cancer should include a careful history, physical examination, pelvic, and rectal examinations, Pap smear, CBC, urinalysis, SMA 12 (blood chemistries), chest x-ray, and intravenous pyelography as indicated. Sonography, lymphangiography are optional.Traditionally, operative treatment has been the keystone of management for ovarian carcinoma. In view of the unsatisfactory results with operation and radiotherapy in disseminated disease, chemotherapy has been used widely. Hope for the future lies in further development of immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy.