INTRODUCTION
In early ovarian cancer, unique characteristics such as a higher
incidence of non-serous histology and co-existence of endometriosis are
identified.1 Endometriosis is genetically linked to
ovarian cancer and endometriosis is a precursor lesion of clear cell and
endometrioid ovarian cancer.2, 3 Endometriosis-related
ovarian cancer is diagnosed in an earlier stage compared to high grade
serous ovarian cancer.4
Resection of the rectosigmoid colon is frequently performed as parts of
the cytoreductive surgical procedure of ovarian cancer5. The surgical investigation has been investigated
mainly focusing on the advanced stage ovarian cancer.6,
7 The surgical resection of the rectosigmoid colon has not been
investigated in early ovarian cancer till now. Given the higher
prevalence of endometriosis in earlier stage ovarian cancer, the
surgical management of the rectosigmoid colon might be more complex than
those of advanced ovarian cancer. Because the bowel excision is
sometimes required for complete excision of ovarian cancer and pelvic
endometriosis as well.8 Complete excision of all
suspicious lesions for endometriosis or ovarian cancer may be more
important in the surgical management of ovarian cancer because
intra-operative differentiation of endometriosis from ovarian cancer is
difficult and endometriosis has been suggestive of possible precursor
lesion of ovarian cancer.9, 10
Based on these backgrounds, we investigated the incidence of surgical
resection of the rectosigmoid colon required to remove all suspicious
lesions in the surgical management of early ovarian cancer and
pathological outcomes.