Systematic pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy at second-look laparotomy for ovarian cancer

A retrospective review of the medical records of all ovarian cancer patients admitted to our institution from January 1974 to December 1993 was performed. A total of 58 consecutive patients who underwent systematic pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy during second-look surgery was found. Node metastases were found in 15 of 58 patients (25.8%). No significant correlation was found between the variables of disease (e.g., stage of the disease at diagnosis, histology, grade, residual tumor after the first cytoreductive surgery, and the type of chemotherapy administered) and node status at second-look. Node metastases were found in 8 of 45 (17.7%) patients with absence of intraperitoneal disease, compared with 7 of 11 (63.6%) patients with intraabdominal residual disease (P < 0.02). There was no difference in 5-year survival for patients with absence of residual tumor in the peritoneal cavity as well as in the retroperitoneum (5-year survival 80%) and for patients with retroperitoneal disease only (5-year survival 77%). On the contrary, a highly significant difference in survival (P < 0.001) was observed between these two groups of patients and those who had intraabdominal residual tumor. Twelve of 45 (26.6%) patients have recurred. FIGO stage, grade, and residual disease after primary surgery were determinant in predicting recurrence. Notably, no relation emerged between relapse rate and the node status at second-look.