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Table 1 Surgical quality categories for staging of ovarian carcinomas (based on Trimbos et al. 2003)

From: Role of primary surgery in advanced ovarian cancer

Category of surgical quality

Staging procedures included

Optimal -

Inspection and palpation of all peritoneal surfaces; biopsies of any suspect lesion for metastasis; peritoneal washings; infra-colic omentectomy; blind biopsies of the right diaphragm and right and left para-colic gutter, pelvic side-walls of the ovarian fossa, of the bladder peritoneum and of the cul-de-sac and sampling of iliac and para-aortic lymph nodes

Modified -

Everything between optimal and minimal staging

Minimal -

Inspection and palpation of all peritoneal surfaces and the retroperitoneal area; biopsies of any suspect lesions for metastasis; peritoneal washing; infracolic omentectomy

Inadequate -

Less than minimal staging but at least careful inspection and palpation of all peritoneal surfaces and the retroperitoneal area; biopsies of any suspect lesion for metastasis