Innovative 3-Dimensional Imaging in Preoperative Evaluation for Secondary Cytoreductive Surgery in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer—A Pilot Study

Objective: The efficacy of secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS) in recurrent ovarian cancer remains controversial, necessitating meticulous preoperative planning. While three-dimensional (3D) imaging has transformed surgical approaches in various disciplines, its application in gynaecologic oncology is nascent. This study introduces a novel investigation employing preoperative 3D modelling in SCS preparation. Methods: A retrospective analysis was undertaken at a university-affiliated tertiary medical centre, examining patients who underwent SCS for recurrent ovarian cancer between 2017 and 2022. Patients were stratified into 2 cohorts: those with preoperative CT-based 3D imaging (group A) and those without (group B). Demographic profiles, clinical data, and surgical outcomes were compared between the groups. Results: Among the 76 identified patients, 18 were deemed suitable for surgery, with 7 in group A undergoing preoperative 3D modelling. Demographics encompassing age and performance status were consistent across both groups, while Serous histology was more prominent in group B. Although operative metrics and collaborative endeavours exhibited no statistically significant variance, the attainment of optimal debulking with no residual disease (R0) was substantially higher in group A (100%) compared to group B (54%), with a significance level of P = 0.05. Conclusion: CT-based 3D modelling in the preoperative phase of SCS for ovarian cancer shows potential for enhancing surgical planning. While this pioneering research highlights the potential benefits of integrating 3D imaging into gynaecologic oncology, the limitations of this retrospective study imply that these findings are primarily hypothesis-generating. Further prospective studies are necessary to validate the impact.