Benefits of laparoscopic approach in early-stage ovarian cancer and ovarian masses.

Purpose of review: The aim of this review is to summarize the available evidence on the use and benefits of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in the management of ovarian masses and early-stage ovarian cancer.

Recent findings: MIS did not negatively impact survival outcomes or increase perioperative complication rates in patients with early-stage ovarian cancer compared to open surgery, while providing the inherent benefits associated with this surgical approach. Regarding the type of MIS, both laparoscopic and robotic approaches can be used in well selected patients at specialized centers.

Summary: MIS appears to be a feasible and well tolerated surgical option for the evaluation of ovarian masses and for the comprehensive staging of early-stage ovarian cancer patients. Compared to open surgery, MIS offers several advantages, including significantly reduced blood loss, a lower need for transfusion, shorter hospital stays and faster postoperative recovery, without compromising surgical results. Furthermore, extensive retrospective studies have shown comparable survival outcomes between both approaches. However, high-quality evidence from randomized clinical trials is still needed to establish definitive conclusions and draw international recommendations.