What does debulking mean?

What does debulking mean?

(dee-BUL-king) Surgical removal of as much of a tumor as possible. Debulking may increase the chance that chemotherapy or radiation therapy will kill all the tumor cells. It may also be done to relieve symptoms or help the patient live longer.

Why is the omentum removed?

An omentectomy may be recommended for an ovarian cancer patient if cancerous cells have invaded the omentum. The procedure may also be performed as a preventive measure to reduce the risk of cancer spreading from the ovaries to the stomach and other abdominal organs.

What is the survival rate of omentum cancer?

Patients with primary malignant tumors of the omentum have a median survival time of only 6 months. Only 10-20% of patients are alive 2 years after surgical excision. The reason for this grave prognosis is not clear, given that only a minority of these patients have distant metastasis at initial diagnosis.

What is total omentectomy?

A supracolic omentectomy, or total omentectomy, removes the entire omentum. A partial omentectomy removes part of the omentum. An omentectomy is typically performed in combination with other treatments such as a hysterectomy or a salpingo-oophorectomy.

What is meant by Cytoreduction?

(sīt″ō-rĕ-dŭk′shŭn) [″ + ″] Cellular killing, usually of cancerous cell clones, with chemotherapy.

What are the side effects of having the omentum removed?

What are the risks of omentectomy?

  • Pain.
  • Lymphedema – buildup of fluid caused by lymph-vessel blockage.
  • Nerve damage that could be permanent.

What happens if omentum is removed?

In animals, removing the omentum impacts on the survival of free intraperitoneal malignant cells and there by reduces the rate of local recurrence[72,73]. Because of these observations, the omentum is frequently removed as part of resections for malignancies of various intra abdominal organs[74].

What kind of surgery is debulking?

Debulking cytoreductive surgery is a common treatment procedure for ovarian cancer. The goal of debulking is to remove as much cancerous tissue in the patient’s abdomen as possible, leaving behind no tumor nodules that measure more than 1 centimeter in diameter.

Is debulking surgery the same as hysterectomy?

What happens during debulking surgery? Depending on the stage and extent of a patient’s ovarian cancer, debulking surgery may involve the surgical removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes and both the ovaries. This is called a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO).

What are the symptoms of omentum cancer?

Peritoneal Cancer Symptoms

  • Abdominal discomfort or pain from gas, indigestion, pressure, swelling, bloating, or cramps.
  • Feeling of fullness, even after a light meal.
  • Nausea or diarrhea.
  • Constipation.
  • Frequent urination.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Unexplained weight gain or loss.
  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding.

What is debulking and what does it mean?

Debulking. Debulking is the reduction of as much of the bulk ( volume) of a tumour without the intention of a complete eradication. It is usually achieved by surgical removal. When performed for curative intent, it is a differente procedure, which is called surgical debulking of tumors is known as cytoreduction or cytoreductive surgery ( CRS );

How is debulking used in the treatment of cancer?

Debulking is used with curative intent in only some types of cancer, as generally partial removal of a malignant tumor is not a worthwhile intervention for curative purposes (because malignant cells left behind soon multiply and renew the threat). Ovarian cancer and some types of brain tumor are debulked before radiotherapy…

How long does a debulking procedure usually take?

Debulking procedures are usually long and often complicated, taking several hours or more to perform, depending on internal involvement and location. ^ a b c National Cancer Institute, NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: debulking, retrieved 2016-12-01.

When to use debulking surgery for ovarian cancer?

Debulking surgery is a mainstay of ovarian cancer treatment because most are diagnosed when they’re more advanced. Compared with other advanced cancers, advanced ovarian cancer tends to respond better to debulking surgery and chemotherapy.