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Ovarian Cancer Treatment by Stage
Stage IV Ovarian Germ Cell Cancer
For stage IV ovarian germ cell cancer, treatment will depend on whether the tumor is dysgerminoma or another type of germ cell tumor.
Treatment of dysgerminoma may include:
- Total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by chemotherapy, with removal of as much of the cancer in the pelvis and abdomen as possible
- Unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by chemotherapy.
Treatment of other germ cell tumors may include:
- Total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, with removal of as much of the cancer in the pelvis and abdomen as possible. Chemotherapy will be given before and/or after surgery.
- Unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by chemotherapy.
- Second-look surgery (surgery performed after primary treatment to determine whether any tumor cells remain).
Recurrent Ovarian Germ Cell Cancer
For recurrent ovarian germ cell cancer, treatment will depend on whether the tumor is dysgerminoma or another type of germ cell tumor. Treatment of dysgerminoma may include chemotherapy, with or without radiation therapy. Treatment of other germ cell tumors may include chemotherapy and/or surgery.
Low Malignant Potential Ovarian Cancer Treatment by Stage
Low malignant potential ovarian cancer has the following stages:
- Early stage (stage I/II)
- Late stage (stage III/IV)
- Recurrent.
Early Stage (Stage I/II) Low Malignant Potential Ovarian Cancer
Surgery is usually the standard treatment for low malignant potential ovarian cancer in the early stages. The type of surgery will depend on whether a woman plans to have children.
For women who plan to have children, the type of surgery is either unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or partial oophorectomy. To prevent recurrence of disease, most doctors recommend surgery to remove the remaining ovarian tissue when a woman no longer plans to have children.
For women who do not plan to have children, the surgery may be a hysterectomy or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD