Feasibility study on the use of single-port laparoscopic surgery for diagnosis and tumor sampling in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer — Case series of three cases

INTRODUCTION: In advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (AEOC), it is often difficult to achieve optimal surgery at primary debulking surgery (PDS) due to intra-abdominal dissemination and/or metastasis. When it is determined that optimal surgery is not possible, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is performed prior to subsequent debulking surgery. Also, a histological diagnosis of the tumor is very important before initiation of NAC. Laparoscopic surgery is thus useful to objectively diagnose whether an optimal primary debulking surgery is feasible and to obtain tumor biopsy samples. In order to minimize the invasive procedures at initial surgery, we performed laparoscopic surgery using a single-port method. CASE PRESENTATION: Three patients were diagnosed as stage IV ovarian cancer based on imaging and physical examination. Single-port laparoscopic surgery was performed. The intraabdominal findings were evaluated in all patients by predictive index scoring and objectively diagnosed as not ideal candidates for optimal surgery at PDS. Our use of single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) allowed for safe surgical outcomes and sufficient tissue sampling for histological diagnosis. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Laparoscopic surgery is not appropriate for tumor reduction surgery in AEOC; however, its use as an alternative method to laparotomy is recommended for tumor tissue biopsy and/or intraperitoneal observation. Previous studies have reported on the use of conventional multi-port laparoscopic surgery. The single-port method, when compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery, is less invasive with only one abdominal wound at the umbilicus. CONCLUSION: SPLS is feasible and clinically useful for diagnosis and tumor sampling in AEOC.