External validation of a laparoscopic-based score to evaluate resectability of advanced ovarian cancers: clues for a simplified score.

Background: The relevance of laparoscopy-based score in identifying patients with advanced ovarian cancer for optimal cytoreductive surgery has been evaluated.

Methods: 55 patients with stage III-IV ovarian cancer, having undergone both laparoscopy and laparotomy for cytoreductive surgery, were retrospectively analyzed. Seven parameters were assessed: omental cake, peritoneal carcinosis, diaphragmatic carcinosis, mesenteric retraction, bowel infiltration, stomach infiltration, liver metastases. Each parameter was assigned 2 points if present and 0 if not (Fagotti score). Sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values, and accuracy were calculated for each parameter. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to predict the surgical outcome.

Results: A laparoscopy-based score of >or=8 was associated with suboptimal cytoreduction with sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of 46%, 89%, 89%, 44%, and 60% respectively. ROC curve analysis gave an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.74. A modified score was set up by selecting 4 of the 7 parameters which satisfied the inclusion criteria in our population: diaphragmatic carcinosis, mesenteric retraction, stomach infiltration, liver metastases. Thirteen patients (12%) had a modified score of >or=4 and 42 patients (88%) had a score of <4 with an optimal cytoreduction rate of 0% and 43% respectively (P=0.002). A modified score of >or=4 was associated with suboptimal cytoreduction with sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of 35%, 100%, 100%, 43%, and 56% respectively. ROC curve analysis gave an AUC of 0.68.

Conclusion: This simplified laparoscopy-based score was at least as accurate as the Fagotti score to predict resectability.