Gr upSM New Insights in Laparoscopic Assessment for Primary Cytoreduction in Advanced Ovarian Cancer

In patients with potentially resectable advanced ovarian cancer, primary cytoreductive surgery followed by chemotherapy remains the treatment of choice. The aim of debulking surgery is to leave no visible macroscopic tumor, as complete debulking is the most important prognostic factor in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Suboptimal primary debulking surgery should be avoided in order to decrease surgery related complications with no benefit in overall survival. Standard preoperatively evaluation, which usually includes physical examination, tumour markers, ultrasound and CT scan, has a low sensibility to predict when optimal debulking surgery can be performed. Laparoscopy has been increasingly incorporated as a useful tool in patients with advanced ovarian cancer but indications and limitations of this approach should be well known by gynecologic oncologists.