A Comparative Study of Patients with Cancer of the Ovary, Who Have Survived More Or Less Than 10 Years

Abstract

With the purpose of elucidating the characteristics in patients with cancer of the ovary who survived 10 yr, compared with patients who have not survived 10 yr, 161 patients with epithelial cancer and 15 patients with granulosa cell tumors who survived 10 yr, group A, were compared with 157 patients with epithelial cancer and 14 patients with granulosa cell tumors, who have not survived 10 yr, group B. Among epithelial tumors the stage of tumor and the histological picture in the form of low potential malignancy or adenocarcinoma was of decisive importance for 10 yr survival. No correlation between information such as age, marital status, profession, duration of symptoms and the nature of symptoms and 10 yr survival could be found in patients with stages I and II tumors. The gynecological examination, nature of surgical treatment or radiation therapy could not be correlated with 10 yr survival in stages I and II. Of the 152 patients with epithelial cancer in stages I and II, 32 who survived in 10 yr died from their ovarian disease or developed cancer localized to the cervix or corpus uteri. The risk of not removing both ovaries as well as the uterus was shown and such patients should be followed for many yr after treatment. In 29 patients with granulosa cell tumor neither the medical history, stage of the tumor nor treatment could be correlated with 10 yr survival.