Background The completeness of surgical cytoreduction is the most important prognostic factor in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (AOC). The FIGO staging system for ovarian cancer does not accurately account for disease distribution and tumour burden within the peritoneal cavity.

The peritoneal cancer index (PCI) quantitatively assesses cancer distribution and tumour burden in the peritoneal cavity in 13 abdominopelvic regions. It does not, however, include retroperitoneal nodal disease. First described by Sugarbaker, it was widely used in colorectal cancer and peritoneal mesothelioma. More recently, the PCI has been used to quantify tumour burden in patients with AOC. It may be a suitable tool to predict the completeness of cytoreduction at primary and interval debulking surgery. The aim of this study was to analyse the prognostic value and clinical correlations of PCI in patients with AOC.

Methodology We evaluated the correlation between PCI and cytoreductive score (GOG-score) in patients with AOC who were treated with primary and interval debulking surgery at a UK tertiary cancer centre. Data for 36 consecutive patients with AOC were collected prospectively from January to September 2020. An Ovarian Cancer Reporting Tool was developed according to the ESGO Ovarian Cancer Surgery Guideline and the Dutch Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Protocol. Intra-operative PCI scores prior to and after resection were calculated using the report sheet, intra-operative findings and surgical notes. The scores were correlated to completeness of cytoreduction according to the GOG-score (1 = no macroscopic residual disease, 2 = 0.1–1 cm residual, 3 = 1–2 cm residual disease, 4 ≥ 2 cm residual disease).

Results Of the 36 patients, 25% (9/36) were staged FIGO IIIB, 33.3% (12/36) were FIGO IIIC and 41.6% (15/36) were FIGO IV. Twenty-five percent (9/36) underwent primary debulking surgery and 75% (27/36) underwent interval debulking surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Thirty-one (86%) patients had high grade serous histology and five (14%) low grade serous carcinoma. Table 1 illustrates the distribution of intra-operative PCI scores and completeness of cytoreduction.

Twenty-three (64%) patients had a PCI of 0 to 15. In 22 (96%) complete cytoreduction (GOG-1) was achieved and in 1 (4%) there was 0.1–1 cm residual disease (GOG-2). Four patients had a PCI of 16 to 20 with GOG-1 achieved in 3 (75%) and GOG-2 in 1 (25%).

Nine patients had a PCI greater than 20 and rates of cytoreduction were: GOG-1 = 4 (44%), GOG-2 = 2 (22%), GOG-3 = 2 (22%) and GOG-4 = 1 (11%).

Conclusion PCI is a reproducible and objective tool for assessing the likelihood of complete resectability at primary and interval debulking surgery for AOC. A PCI of 0–20 was associated with a high likelihood of complete cytoreduction (93%) compared to a PCI of greater than 20, where complete cytoreduction was achieved in the minority (44%). Assessment and validation of PCI by radiology, laparoscopy and laparotomy may help in the selection of patients for cytoreductive surgery, neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone.

Disclosures None.