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Is It Time to Centralize Ovarian Cancer Care in the United States?

  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article was to broadly review the most up-to-date information pertaining to the centralization of ovarian cancer care in the United States (US) and worldwide.

Methods

Much of the present literature pertaining to disparities in, and centralization of, ovarian cancer care in the US and internationally was reviewed, and specifically included original research and review articles.

Results

Data show improved optimal debulking rates, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline adherence, and overall survival rates in higher-volume, more specialized hospitals, and amongst higher-volume providers.

Conclusions

Patients with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer, especially those with higher stages (III and IV), are better served by centralized care in high-volume hospitals and by high-volume physicians, who adhere to NCCN guidelines wherever possible. More research is needed to determine the policy changes that can increase NCCN guideline adherence in low-volume hospitals and low-provider caseload scenarios. Policy and future research should be aimed at increasing patient access, either directly or indirectly, to high-volume hospital and high-volume providers, especially amongst Medicare, lower socioeconomic status, and minority patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gynecology Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Renee A. Cowan MD, Ginger J. Gardner MD, Douglas A. Levine MD, Kara Long Roche MD, Yukio Sonoda MD, Oliver Zivanovic MD, Nadeem R. Abu-Rustum MD & Dennis S. Chi MD

  2. Gynecologic Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Roisin E. O’Cearbhaill MD & William P. Tew MD

  3. Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA

    Roisin E. O’Cearbhaill MD, Ginger J. Gardner MD, Douglas A. Levine MD, Yukio Sonoda MD, William P. Tew MD, Evis Sala MD, PhD, Yulia Lakhman MD, Hebert A. Vargas Alvarez MD, Debra M. Sarasohn MD, Svetlana Mironov MD, Nadeem R. Abu-Rustum MD & Dennis S. Chi MD

  4. Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Evis Sala MD, PhD, Yulia Lakhman MD, Hebert A. Vargas Alvarez MD, Debra M. Sarasohn MD & Svetlana Mironov MD

Authors
  1. Renee A. Cowan MD
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  2. Roisin E. O’Cearbhaill MD
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  7. Oliver Zivanovic MD
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  9. Evis Sala MD, PhD
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  10. Yulia Lakhman MD
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  11. Hebert A. Vargas Alvarez MD
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  13. Svetlana Mironov MD
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  14. Nadeem R. Abu-Rustum MD
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  15. Dennis S. Chi MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dennis S. Chi MD.

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Cowan, R.A., O’Cearbhaill, R.E., Gardner, G.J. et al. Is It Time to Centralize Ovarian Cancer Care in the United States?. Ann Surg Oncol 23, 989–993 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-015-4938-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-015-4938-9

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