Abstract
74 cases of ovarian carcinoma diagnosed and treated at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, Helsingborg's hospital during the years 1956-1965 were examined with special reference to the effect of various biological, social and clinical factors on the later course. The following features were associated with a more favourable prognosis: younger age groups; married women; high haemoglobin values; short duration of symptoms; uterine bleeding as first symptom; low stage of tumour; mucinous cystocarcinoma; and following tumour characteristics: unilateral tumour; unruptured tumour; non-adherent tumour; absence of metastases; absence of ascites. The differences regarding the 5-year survival rate were found to be statistically significant within the groups relating to age, haemoglobin value, stage and the variables given under “tumour characteristics” (with the exception of “unruptured tumour”). The patient's parity and the size of the tumour was of little or no prognostic value in the present series. The prognosis was significantly better for patients who had bilateral oophorectomy combined with hysterectomy, than for those who had bilateral oophorectomy alone. The total 5-year survival rate was 35.1%. 6-16 years after the diagnosis 29.7% of the patients were still alive, 5.4% had died from intercurrent diseases and 64.9% from the tumour.