EORTC-GCG process quality indicators for ovarian cancer surgery.

INTRODUCTION

Surgery is the mainstay of staging and treatment of ovarian cancer. Optimal quality of ovarian cancer surgery implies complete staging and removal of all macroscopic tumour with minimal harm to the patient in order to ensure best patient outcome. However, variation in the quality of ovarian cancer surgery is apparent. In order to assess and improve the quality of care, quality indicators can be used.

METHODS

To identify candidate quality indicators, a literature search was performed using relevant MESH terms. These were assessed for validity, feasibility and measurability.

RESULTS

Five quality indicators for staging of presumed early-stage ovarian cancer and six for primary debulking surgery for advanced disease are proposed.

CONCLUSION

The defined quality indicators can be used to monitor and improve the quality of surgery for ovarian cancer.