Purpose: To evaluate pattern and quality of care for ovarian cancer in Germany and analyze adherence to treatment guidelines as well as prognostic factors for survival.
Methods: Nationwide survey including patients with histological proven invasive epithelial ovarian cancer diagnosed in the third quarter 2001 including descriptive analysis of pattern of surgical care and systemic treatment in early (FIGO I-IIA) and advanced (FIGO IIB-IV) ovarian cancer and both univariate and multivariate analysis of prognostic factors.
Results: 476, representing more than one third of all patients diagnosed in Q III 2001 in Germany were included. Standard care according to German guidelines was provided to only 35.5 % of patients with early ovarian cancer. Optimal debulking was reported for 61.4 % patients with FIGO stages IIB-IV. Recommended platinum-paclitaxel chemotherapy was given to 3 out of 4 patients in advanced disease. Multivariate analysis showed advanced stage, poor performance status, co-morbidity, ascites, postoperative tumor residuals, and less than standard care to be associated with inferior survival.
Conclusions: Adherence to treatment guidelines showed remarkable variety among German hospitals indicating options and need for improvement.