Dr. Duska on Primary Debulking Surgery in Ovarian Cancer

Linda R. Duska, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and gynecologic oncologist at the University of Virginia, discusses primary debulking surgery in ovarian cancer.

Primary debulking surgery has demonstrated improved overall survival for patients. However, the procedure can lead to surgical complications. For example, primary debulking surgery has been associated with an increased rate of surgical morbidity or mortality in some patients, says Duska.

As such, patient-related factors including performance status, serum albumin levels, BMI, and other medical comorbidities may lead a surgeon to discuss neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the patient as a less morbid alternative to surgery, concludes Duska.