[Ovarian cancer. I. Epidemiology, symptoms, FIGO staging].

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of our study was to analyse the epidemiological data, signs and symptoms, FIGO staging in patients operated for the first time for ovarian cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of patients' charts with ovarian cancer operated at the Department of Gynaecological Surgery of Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital-Research Institute in 1990-1999 was conducted. We analysed the data of women operated for the first time for this disease. FIGO staging was performed due to operational and histologic findings. RESULTS: Between January 1990 and December 1999, 107 patients were operated for the first time for ovarian cancer. The mean patients' age was 54 years (range: 25-82); 31.8% of patients were aged from 41 to 50 years, 24.8% 51-60, 27.1% 61-70%, 7.5% above 70 years, and 9.3% were below 40 years. The main symptoms were: abdominal pain (61.7%), increasing abdominal circumference (35.5%), urination and bowel problems (14.0%), weight loss (8.4%), dyspeptic problems (7.5%), slightly elevated temperature (4.7%) and abnormal vaginal bleeding (3.7%). No symptoms were reported by 16.8% of patients (frequency similar in I/II and III/IV stage by FIGO). There were no statistical differences in the incidence of reported symptoms in I/II vs III/IV FIGO stage. FIGO staging was as follows: I--13.1%, II--14.95%, III--59.8%, IV--12.15%. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that ovarian cancer is very rare below the age of 40 and above 70 years. There is a great need to improve screening for ovarian cancer because the development of the disease is clinically silent or nonspecific and almost 70% of patients with ovarian cancer is diagnosed in the late stages of illness.