Re: Best hospital in North America for ovarian cancer? (mom just diagnosed)

From: Howard McCollister (nospam_at_nospam.net)
Date: 06/07/04 

Date: 7 Jun 2004 07:29:06 -0500

<PaulF@NoSpamPlease.com> wrote in message
news:ARNwc.16944344$Id.2802528@news.easynews.com...
> > As to tumor masses, you mean that there are none that
> > have been detected. One won't know definitively until
> > one takes a look.
>
> Yes. But I think that at least I can be somewhat
> confident that any masses are small or flat. Surely the CT
> scan would pick up a 1cm mass. (I understand it's resolution
> is down into the millimeter range).
>
>
>
> > She needs a diagnostic laparoscopy with ovarian biopsies or removal,
> > subdiaphragmatic washings for cytology, omentectomy. Many gynecologists
> > won't do this laparsocopically.
>
> That you for this bit of very valuable info. I'll be sure
> to ask about it.
>
> I don't know if the surgeon will opt to do it laparsocopically
> or by laparotomy. She may also choose to just do a single
> operation to diagnose and remove tissue. I understand
> that it's even possible to make the tests "live". (as in:
> open the patient, do washings/sample tissue, get an answer
> from the lab while patient is still on the table, and decide
> on what tissues to remove immeditely)
>

Yes, there are a number of good ways to approach the abdominal exploration.
If the surgeon has a reasonable expectation that masses will be present, or
that laparoscopy may compromise the exploration for technical or experience
reasons, then laparotomy is certainly within the range of acceptable
practice, and in many circumstances may be preferable.

HMc

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