Laparoscopy and peritoneal cytology as markers in the follow-up of ovarian epithelial tumors

Laparoscopy and cytology are two of the basic procedures for intensive restaging in all referred patients within 30 days of surgery performed in another hospital. Follow-up during chemotherapy is systematic within 6 months IA cured primary surgery in stage IAcured by single ovariectomy and in all other stages up to late III of NED patients. In late III NED patients, the laparoscopic procedure is repeated more frequently, to a custom-tailored schedule, depending on the chemotherapy already given and the drugs still available to control the disease. At second-look monitoring, laparoscopy is widely accepted as a means of avoiding major surgery in a worthwhile proportion of patients and is routinely by us. It is also indicated after 1 year precautional chemotherapy in stage IA, IB, IC, and IIA patients without imploying in this case major surgery for negative subjects. In IIB and IIC patients, the indication for major surgery in laparoscopically negative cases is maintained. In stage III cases, persistent clinical remission after chemotherapy is monitored laparascopically and second look is updated at 24 months. Third look, up to stage IIB, 1 year after withdrawal of therapy in patients with no clinical evidence of diseases, is regularly performed to detect early relapses in these high risk patients.