CARCINOMA OF THE OVARY—CORRELATION OF ULTRASOUND WITH SECOND LOOK LAPAROTOMY

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Abstract
In a series of 26 patients with stage III or IV carcinoma of the ovary, results of ultrasound examination of the pelvis and abdomen were correlated with 2nd look laparotomy. All patients had responded clinically to a course of chemotherapy. Elective surgery was used to restage and debulk tumor. Ultrasound examination was done before surgery. Ultrasound was sensitive in detecting ovarian tumor in the pelvis and had an 84% correlation with laparotomy. It was also sensitive in detecting liver and right diaphragmatic metastases with a 92% correlation with the laparotomy findings. It consistently failed to detect i.p. spread except when disease was gross or when it could be predicted by the presence of ascites. The correlation with laparotomy in this situation was only 36%. This is to be expected as the size of most peritoneal deposits is below the resolution of ultrasound. These lesions are easily detected by laparoscopy. Ultrasound has an important role in the management of advanced carcinoma of the ovary.