ABSTRACT
Surgery plays a critical role in the diagnosis, initial management, treatment of recurrence, and palliation of symptoms from ovarian cancer. Surgery must be used judiciously and with careful patient selection and treatment planning to maximize the benet, while minimizing risks. e outcome of patients with ovarian cancer is dependent on several factors, which can be grouped into three main categories:
1. Tumor-associated variables: Heterogeneity in tumor biology aects the distribution of tumor at the time of diagnosis as well as the dierential responses to chemotherapy and plays a major role in determining the survival of ovarian cancer patients. Currently, stage, as well as tumor extent and distribution, histologic subtypes, and grade can all be considered as surrogate markers of tumor aggressiveness [1-4]. In the future, molecular subclassication will undoubtedly play an increasing role in this preoperative “look” at tumor behavior.
