[Risk factors for retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis in ovarian cancer]

The incidence and significant risk factors for retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis were investigated in 48 patients with primary epithelial ovarian cancer. Twenty-four (50.0%) of the 48 patients had para-aortic and/or pelvic lymph node metastases. In retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy at primary cytoreductive surgery, all patients with lymph node metastases were found to have both para-aortic and pelvic lymph node metastases. It is possible that the lymphatic extension, from the pelvic lymph node to the para-aortic lymph node, is one of the routes of retroperitoneal lymph node metastases in primary epithelial ovarian cancer. The incidence of lymph node metastases significantly increased with the spread of the abdominal tumor, peritoneal cytology, peritoneal metastasis, omental metastasis, involvement of both ovaries and poor histological grade. In the multiple analysis, the spread of the abdominal tumor, positive peritoneal cytology and poor histological grade were found to be the most important risk factors for retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis in ovarian cancer.