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.