Surgical Management for Ovarian Cancer: Survey of Practice among Thai Gynecologic Oncologists
Chanpanitkitchot S, MD1, Tiyayon J, MD1, Kietpeerakool C, MD1, Tangjitgamol S, MD2, Srisomboon J, MD3, Thai Gynecologic Cancer Society (TGCS)4
Affiliation : 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rajavithi Hospital, College of Medicine, Rangsit University, Bangkok, Thailand 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Vajira Hospital, Navamindradhiraj University, Bangkok, Thailand 3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand 4 Thai Gynecologic Cancer Society (TGCS), Huaykwang, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To describe the practice landscape among Thai gynecologic oncologists toward the surgical management of ovarian
cancer obtained from the Thai Gynecologic Cancer Society (TGCS) Survey.
Materials and Methods : The present study was a part of the national practice survey on the management of gynecologic cancer in
Thailand. All Thai gynecologic oncologists were targeted for the TGCS survey. The present study analyzed data regarding the surgical
treatment of ovarian cancer.
Results : Of 170 respondents, one-third of the respondents reported routinely assessing tumor volume and location by pre-operative
imaging. Respondents in private and secondary hospitals were more likely to perform pre-operative imaging than those in
governmental and tertiary hospitals (72.2% versus 34.2% and 71.4% versus 31.7%). Most of the respondents (94.7%) reported
routinely performing lymphadenectomy in presumed early-stage cancer. In the advanced-stage, most of the respondents (71.3%)
reported selectively performing lymphadenectomy only in women with clinically suspicious metastasis or when optimal
cytoreduction could be attained. Respondents with practice duration less than 5 years were less likely to routinely perform
lymphadenectomy in women with advanced-stage disease compared to those with longer practice duration (14.1% versus 39.6%).
The respondents with long duration of practice were more likely to perform secondary cytoreduction than those who had fewer
experiences (77.8% versus 56.3%).
Conclusion : This survey indicated variations of some practices on the surgical treatment of ovarian cancer in Thailand including
pre-surgical imaging assessment, a pattern of lymph node dissection, and secondary cytoreduction for recurrent disease.
Keywords : Survey, Practice, Gynecologic cancer, Ovarian cancer, Surgery
