Surgery for Ovarian Cancer

Surgery is often the first line of treatment for ovarian cancer patients. For patients with early-stage cancers, surgery may be the only treatment necessary.

There are a number of surgical procedures that can be used to treat ovarian cancer. Washington University gynecologic oncologists are skilled surgeons who care for a high volume of ovarian cancer patients. They have special expertise in cutting-edge procedures to remove advanced ovarian tumors from the abdomen less invasively.

Ovary removal

If the cancer is limited to the ovary, your physicians may be able to successfully treat you and prevent it from spreading by taking out the ovary and fallopian tube. This procedure is called a salpingo-oophorectomy. It can be performed on one or both ovaries, depending on the extent of your cancer.

Salpingo-oophorectomies may be conducted laparoscopically, through small incisions, or through a larger open incision. Your physicians will decide which type of procedure would work best for you.

Most patients recover quickly following ovary removal surgery. Some patients will not need to spend time in the hospital and can return home the same day.

Total hysterectomy

Most patients will require a total hysterectomy as well removal of tubes and ovaries. During a total hysterectomy, the surgeons remove the uterus and the cervix. There are a number of ways to do this. Sometimes, the uterus can be taken out through the vaginal canal. If the procedure is being performed laparoscopically, then the patient will only need several small incisions. In other cases, the surgeon will have to make a larger incision in the abdomen to perform the procedure safely and effectively.

Your recovery time will depend on the type and route of procedure your surgeon conducts. Patients who undergo laparoscopic or minimally invasive procedures typically recover more quickly than patients who undergo more traditional, open procedures. Your surgeon will choose the best approach for you, your body, and your other medical/surgical conditions.

Omentectomy

The omentum is a layer of tissue covering the organs in the abdomen, including the colon and the stomach. It consists of a delicate network of blood vessels, lymph nodes, lymph vessels, and nerves. Sometimes, ovarian cancer can spread to the omentum. Primary peritoneal tumors may occur here as well.

An omentectomy is a procedure to remove the omentum.  Your surgeon may perform an omentectomy during surgery to determine the stage of the cancer.

Cytoreductive surgery

Cytoreductive surgery, or tumor debulking, is a procedure that surgeons at Siteman helped pioneer and refine. Patients who undergo cytoreductive surgery typically have more advanced ovarian cancer that has spread beyond the ovaries and into abdominal tissues.

During cytoreductive surgery, the surgeon will removal all visible tumor within the abdomen and pelvis. Patients often have their ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes removed, as well as portions of other abdominal organs that may have been affected by the cancer.

HIPEC Procedure

Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a highly specialized treatment not widely available elsewhere. It is designed to maximize chemotherapy’s effect on cancer cells in the abdomen while minimizing side effects on the patient.

HIPEC may be a part of the treatment plan for patients with ovarian cancer that has spread throughout the abdominal cavity. HIPEC is used during surgery and in combination with other treatments, including chemotherapy given through the vein prior to surgery. HIPEC is a localized, high-dose, heated chemotherapy, which is used to eliminate cancer cells at the same time as cytoreductive surgery.