ISSN:
1432-0711
Keywords:
CA-125
;
Ovarian cancer
;
Second-look operation
;
Second-line therapy
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary In the assessment of response to treatment of ovarian cancer patients, clinical examination is unreliable in detecting small tumor masses. The second-look laparotomy is therefore an accepted procedure. The optimal timing of second-look laparotomy, however, is uncertain. We therefore examined the usefulness of serial serum CA-125 estimations in the timing of second-look laparotomies in 33 patients suffering from ovarian cancer. Increasing CA-125 concentrations were always followed by relapses or progressive disease, whereas decreasing serum concentrations indicated response to treatment. In future we propose to perform second-look laparotomies when CA-125 levels have declined to a steady plateau and to star a secondary treatment when CA-125 levels start to rise again.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00932974
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