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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
Surgical Techniques to Optimize Ovarian Reserve during Laparoscopic Cystectomy for Ovarian Endometrioma
Published on: January 22, 2022
Secondary cytoreductive surgery for isolated nodal recurrence in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer
Antonio Santillan1, Amer K Karam, Andrew J Li
1The Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Phipps #281, Baltimore, MD 21287-1281, USA. asantil1@jhmi.edu
Objectives:
To evaluate the feasibility and associated survival outcome of secondary cytoreductive surgery in patients with isolated lymph node recurrence of epithelial ovarian cancer.
Methods:
Twenty-five patients with epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent secondary cytoreductive surgery for isolated lymph node recurrence were identified from tumor registry databases. Demographic, diagnostic, operative, pathologic, and follow-up data were abstracted retrospectively. Overall survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results:
The median age at time of primary surgery for ovarian cancer was 55 years; 72% of patients had FIGO III/IV disease, and all had high-grade tumors. All patients received platinum-based chemotherapy following primary surgery. The median time from completion of primary chemotherapy to nodal recurrence surgery was 16 months (range=6 to 40 months). The distribution of nodal involvement was pelvic=12% (n=3), para-aortic=60% (n=15), inguinal=20% (n=5), peri-cardiac=4% (n=1), and pelvic plus para-aortic=4% (n=1). The maximal nodal tumor diameter ranged from 1.5 cm to 14 cm, with a median of 3.0 cm. Optimal secondary cytoreductive surgery (residual disease
Conclusion:
Complete optimal secondary cytoreductive surgery for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer presenting as isolated node metastases is achievable in the majority of cases and is associated with a favorable long-term survival outcome.
