Tumor debulking is the removal of as much tumors as possible from the abdominal organs and the inner abdominal walls.
It is applied in cases of advanced gynecologic cancers (i.e. 3rd and 4th stage) with multiple large tumoral foci in the abdominal organs and the abdominal walls.
The purpose of debulking is to eliminate macroscopic tumors, i.e. residual tumors that are visible to the naked eye or over half a centimeter in size, by the end of the procedure. In the event of success, this is called optimal debulking (previously cytoreduction). Fewer or no tumors visible to the naked eye ensure more effective chemotherapy and a better prognosis.
It is one of the heaviest procedures in gynecologic oncology, mainly for the following reasons:
The procedure is performed in patients whose health is already severely impaired as a result of the advanced stage of their condition;
For optimal debulking it is often necessary to remove sections of the small intestine and/or colon, liver, spleen, stomach, etc. This means that surgery takes many hours, increasing morbidity and/or complications.
Hysteroscopy (from the Greek word “ύστερον”= uterus and endoscopy) is the detailed examination of the uterus (or endometrial cavity).
Briefly describing the most common surgical procedures performed to treat cervical dysplasia (Ablation/vaporization & Conization).
This is an operation to remove the entire uterus, as well as the fallopian tubes & ovaries, and its quite common, in case of endometrial (uturine) cancer.