Spread of ovarian cancer after laparoscopic surgery: Report of eight cases

Objective. The aim of this study was to describe early occurrences of metastases after laparoscopy of ovarian masses later found to be malignant. Methods. The hospital charts of eight women having undergone laparoscopic surgery for ovarian mass were reviewed and analyzed. Results. The mean age of the patients was 40 years (range 25 to 66). Size of the tumor ranged from 2 to 15 cm. In four patients the ovarian mass was suspected to be malignant in the laparoscopy. Diagnostic procedure (biopsy of the tumor) was performed in two and salpingo-oophorectomy in six patients. Staging laparotomy was performed within the mean of 17 days (range 7-29). In four patients (50%) the cancer had spread from a localized to an advanced stage during the delay. Ascites was present in the laparoscopy in two of the four patients with port site or abdominal wall metastases. Conclusions. Laparoscopic surgery of ovarian mass later found to be malignant can cause considerable and early spread of the cancer. (C) 1999 Academic Press.