卵巢上皮性癌的腹膜后淋巴结切除对预后的影响

目的　探讨卵巢上皮性癌患者腹膜后淋巴结切除对预后的影响。方法　回顾性分析13 1例卵巢上皮性癌患者的临床资料 ,应用COX风险比例回归模型判断影响预后的因素。结果　多因素分析显示 ,年龄、临床分期、残留灶、腹膜后淋巴结切除术及术后化学药物治疗 (化疗 ) ,是影响预后的重要因素。行和未行腹膜后淋巴结切除术患者的 5年生存率分别为 66%和 41% (P <0 0 1)。对于早期和Ⅲ、Ⅳ期肿瘤残留灶直径 >2cm或黏液性癌患者 ,腹膜后淋巴结切除术并不能提高生存率。Ⅲ、Ⅳ期肿瘤残留灶直径≤ 2cm ,行与未行腹膜后淋巴结切除术患者的 5年生存率分别为 65 %、3 0 %(P <0 0 1)。卵巢浆液性癌 ,行与未行腹膜后淋巴结切除术患者的 5年生存率分别为 61%、3 1% (P<0 0 1)。结论　年龄、临床分期、残留灶大小、腹膜后淋巴结切除与否及术后化疗的疗程数 ,与卵巢上皮性癌患者的预后有关。腹膜后淋巴结切除术虽能提高患者生存率 ,但对肿瘤残留灶直径 >2cm的Ⅲ、Ⅳ期卵巢上皮性癌患者 ,可不必行腹膜后淋巴结切除术     

腹膜后淋巴结切除术在术中肉眼观察临床Ⅰ期卵巢上皮性癌中的意义

目的探讨腹膜后淋巴结切除在术中肉眼观察肿瘤局限于卵巢的临床Ⅰ期卵巢上皮性癌中的意义。方法回顾性分析1994年1月至2005年12月北京大学第一医院诊治的89例术中肉眼观察肿瘤局限于卵巢的Ⅰ期卵巢上皮性癌患者的临床资料。因各种原因未接受腹膜后淋巴结切除的45例为第Ⅰ组,接受全面严格分期手术的44例为第Ⅱ组,对两组的临床病理资料包括预后进行比较,并分析影响预后的因素。结果第Ⅱ组中淋巴结阳性者9例(20.4%),低分化癌的淋巴结转移率显著高于高、中分化癌。第Ⅰ组的2年、5年生存率分别为93.3%和91.1%,第Ⅱ组分别为95.4%和90.9%。两组预后差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。COX逐步回归多因素分析显示,对于行分期手术者,分期对预后有影响,ⅠA期、ⅠB期、ⅠC期较ⅢC期预后好。结论腹膜后淋巴结切除术对术中肉眼观察肿瘤局限与卵巢的临床Ⅰ期卵巢上皮性癌的准确分期有价值,尤其对于低分化癌,但其并不改善患者预后。对于初次手术未行分期手术者,是否需再次手术清扫淋巴结值得探讨。     

子宫外盆腔浆液性癌的起源

子宫外盆腔浆液性癌包括卵巢浆液性癌、输卵管浆液性癌、腹膜浆液性癌。根据细胞分化程度可将卵巢浆液性癌分为低级别和高级别浆液性癌,两者临床特征、预后及分子特征完全不同,是两种不同的疾病。大量证据表明前者由卵巢的良性囊肿如浆液性囊腺瘤、内膜样囊肿等经交界性肿瘤逐步发展而来,而后者起源不明确。传统观点认为高级别浆液性癌起源于卵巢上皮,但对因携带遗传性乳腺癌-卵巢癌综合征易感基因(BRCA)突变行预防性输卵管卵巢切除术的患者手术标本行病理检查,可发现其输卵管伞端存在上皮内癌灶,可能为卵巢高级别浆液性癌的前驱病灶。输卵管浆液性癌及腹膜浆液性癌患者的临床及分子特征与卵巢高级别浆液性癌相似,且输卵管伞端也可见上皮内癌灶,故卵巢高级别浆液性癌、输卵管浆液性癌、腹膜浆液性癌可能均起源于输卵管伞端的上皮内癌灶。     

子宫内膜浆液性上皮内癌6例临床分析

目的探讨子宫内膜浆液性上皮内癌(SEIC)的临床特点及诊治要点。方法回顾性分析2012年1月至2022年2月浙江大学医学院附属妇产科医院收治的术后病理诊断为SEIC的6例患者的临床病理资料及随访结果。结果 6例SEIC患者的中位年龄为61.5岁(范围:55～73岁), 均因绝经后阴道流血初次就诊。6例患者术前均行子宫内膜活检病理检查, 其中4例行宫腔镜手术、2例行分段诊刮术, 均提示SEIC, 其中3例合并子宫内膜息肉。6例患者均行子宫内膜癌分期手术, 手术范围包括筋膜外子宫全切除+双侧附件切除+盆腔淋巴结切除+腹主动脉旁淋巴结切除+大网膜切除+肉眼可见病灶剔除术, 其中1例术中见右侧卵巢表面、右侧髂窝表面腹膜、子宫直肠陷凹表面腹膜及直肠表面均有转移灶。术后病理检查:6例患者中, 4例仅见SEIC, 其中3例病灶存在于息肉内(包括1例出现子宫外转移);2例为子宫内膜浆液性癌合并SEIC, 且均存在子宫内膜息肉背景, 其中1例出现子宫外转移。免疫组化法检测:6例患者p53均呈不同程度的阳性表达, 其中3例呈强阳性表达。术后3例患者辅助铂类药物+紫杉醇方案化疗4～6个疗程。6例患者均随访,...     

白蛋白结合型紫杉醇与溶剂型紫杉醇在卵巢癌新辅助化疗中的疗效分析

目的 对比白蛋白结合型紫杉醇和溶剂型紫杉醇在卵巢癌患者新辅助化疗过程中的疗效,以期为卵巢的治疗及预后提供依据。方法 将2014年8月至2019年8月在哈尔滨医科大学附属肿瘤医院妇一科住院的208例卵巢癌患者随机分为白蛋白结合型紫杉醇组(104例)和溶剂型紫杉醇组(104例)。白蛋白结合型紫杉醇组给予白蛋白结合型注射用紫杉醇260mg/m²静脉滴注治疗;溶剂型紫杉醇组卵巢癌患者则给予紫杉醇注射液175mg/m²静脉滴注治疗。两组患者均连续治疗3个疗程,观察两组患者一般特征、随访结果、不良反应情况及卵巢癌标志物表达水平。结果 白蛋白结合型紫杉醇组患者癌性腹水(65.4%vs. 84.6%)和淋巴结转移(19.2%vs. 34.6%)发生率、化疗前肿瘤相关标志物CA125(44.9%vs. 55.1%)、肿瘤细胞增殖指数Ki67(29.5±20.16 vs. 35.71±20.0)表达水平均低于溶剂型紫杉醇组患者(均P<0.05)。结论 白蛋白结合型紫杉醇的疗效较好,不良反应发生率更低,更适合用于卵巢癌的新辅助化疗。     

《2018 NCCN卵巢癌包括输卵管癌及原发性腹膜癌临床实践指南》解读

正近日,美国肿瘤综合协作网(National Comprehensive Cancer Network,NCCN)公布了《2018 NCCN卵巢癌包括输卵管癌及原发性腹膜癌临床实践指南(第2版)》。本文结合2018年3月底在美国新奥尔良召开的美国妇科肿瘤年会(SGO)的新进展,对新版指南进行简要解读。1与临床处理密切相关的主要更新1.1化疗方法的更新初次化疗及新辅助化疗改为以铂为基础的方案,不再强调TC(紫杉醇+卡铂)     

宫颈鳞癌及腺癌手术患者淋巴结分布及转移的特点差异分析

目的探讨宫颈腺癌及鳞癌手术患者盆腔淋巴结分布及转移的特点差异。方法回顾性分析569例广泛子宫切除及盆腔淋巴结清扫术宫颈癌患者的临床及病理资料。结果宫颈腺癌患者的淋巴结转移率(43.96%)明显高于鳞癌(20.30%);腺癌患者出现更高的高位淋巴结(髂总)转移(P0.05)。腺癌患者表现出更高比例的多组转移(26.7%vs 9.05%)和双侧转移(11.2%vs 6.8%)(P0.05)。腺癌患者有着更高的低期别转移率,ⅠB1、ⅠB2期转移率分别为43.28%、56.25%,明显高于鳞癌(P0.05);而高期别鳞癌如ⅡA2期转移率为55.56%,与腺癌相近。结论宫颈腺癌的淋巴结转移率显著高于鳞癌,腺癌组患者发生高位转移、多站转移、双侧转移的比例高于鳞癌组,腺癌患者比鳞癌患者更易发生早期别淋巴结转移。     

手术及术后化疗治疗有复发中危和高危因素的ⅠB～ⅡA期宫颈癌68例疗效分析

目的:探讨宫颈癌根治术和盆腔淋巴结切除术及术后单纯化疗在有复发中危和高危因素的ⅠB～ⅡA期宫颈癌患者治疗中的效果。方法:选取在北京大学第一医院治疗的68例ⅠB～ⅡA期宫颈癌患者,初始治疗为宫颈癌根治术和盆腔淋巴结切除术,根据术后病理检查结果分为复发中危因素组(中危组)37例(侵犯宫颈深度>1/2宫颈厚度、低分化、肿瘤直径≥4cm、淋巴血管间隙受累)和复发高危因素组(高危组)31例(淋巴结转移、宫旁肿瘤侵犯、切缘阳性)。对所有患者术后辅助单纯化疗,中危组3～4个疗程,高危组4～6个疗程。宫颈鳞癌及腺鳞癌化疗为BIP方案(博来霉素+异环磷酰胺+顺铂/卡铂),腺癌化疗为TP方案(紫杉醇+顺铂/卡铂)。总结患者的3年累积无瘤生存率、复发率和手术及化疗的并发症及毒副反应。结果:37例中危组患者3年累积无瘤生存率为93.1%,31例高危组患者3年累积无瘤生存率为85.4%,两组比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。68例患者的总复发率为10.3%(7/68),中危组复发率为8.1%,高危组复发率为12.9%。中危组和高危组盆腔局部复发率分别为5.4%和6.5%。两组各项化疗毒副反应发生率比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:宫颈癌手术及术后化疗对于有复发中危和高危因素的ⅠB～ⅡA期患者是一种可行的治疗选择,患者可耐受手术联合单纯化疗的并发症和毒副反应,并获得较好的近远期疗效。     

卵巢癌的输卵管起源学说对妇科手术决策的影响

近年来有观点认为卵巢浆液性癌和腹膜浆液性癌可能起源于输卵管。因此,手术方式上的一些简单改变,如对于有基因风险人群行预防性双侧输卵管切除术取代双侧输卵管卵巢切除术,在降低卵巢癌和腹膜癌的发生风险的同时尚可避免卵巢切除术后的一些相关并发症。     

Surgical Treatment Combined with Postoperative Adjuvant Chemotherapy Offer a Viable Option to the Cervical Cancer in Stage ⅠB ～ⅡA with Moderate and High-Risk Factor for Recurrence

目的:探讨宫颈癌根治术和盆腔淋巴结切除术及术后单纯化疗在有复发中危和高危因素的ⅠB～ⅡA期宫颈癌患者治疗中的效果.方法:选取在北京大学第一医院治疗的68例ⅠB～ⅡA期宫颈癌患者,初始治疗为宫颈癌根治术和盆腔淋巴结切除术,根据术后病理检查结果分为复发中危因素组(中危组)37例(侵犯宫颈深度＞ 1/2宫颈厚度、低分化、肿瘤直径≥4 cm、淋巴血管间隙受累)和复发高危因素组(高危组)31例(淋巴结转移、宫旁肿瘤侵犯、切缘阳性).对所有患者术后辅助单纯化疗,中危组3～4个疗程,高危组4～6个疗程.宫颈鳞癌及腺鳞癌化疗为BIP方案(博来霉素+异环磷酰胺+顺铂/卡铂),腺癌化疗为TP方案(紫杉醇+顺铂/卡铂).总结患者的3年累积无瘤生存率、复发率和手术及化疗的并发症及毒副反应.结果:37例中危组患者3年累积无瘤生存率为93.1％,31例高危组患者3年累积无瘤生存率为85.4％,两组比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).68例患者的总复发率为10.3％ (7/68),中危组复发率为8.1％,高危组复发率为12.9％.中危组和高危组盆腔局部复发率分别为5.4％和6.5％.两组各项化疗毒副反应发生率比较,差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论:宫颈癌手术及术后化疗对于有复发中危和高危因素的ⅠB～ⅡA期患者是一种可行的治疗选择,患者可耐受手术联合单纯化疗的并发症和毒副反应,并获得较好的近远期疗效.     

Extraperitoneal laparoscopic para-aortic lymphadenectomy for lymph node recurrence of fallopian tube carcinoma

The endoscopic retroperitoneal approach is a minimally invasive method for surgical staging of cervical cancer. A 57-year-old woman had an intraoperative diagnosis of carcinoma of the left fallopian tube and undergone a retroperitoneal pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy with no peritonization during surgical staging. Small suspicious nodes in the serous membrane of the sigmoid colon and peritoneal washings were positive for malignancy. A total of 12 nodes were obtained, all of which were negative. She received six cycles of paclitaxel and platinum-based chemotherapy and showed a complete clinical response. Thirty-two months after surgery, the abdominal computed tomography scan showed a left para-aortic lymph node, 19 mm in diameter, which was successfully removed through an extraperitoneal laparoscopic approach. The extraperitoneal laparoscopic approach of the para-aortic region is a feasible procedure after previous transperitoneal lymphadenectomy and chemotherapy.     

Lymph node involvement in primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube

Although the bad prognosis of primary fallopian tube carcinoma has been mostly ascribed to early lymphogenous dissemination, precise information regarding the characteristics of retroperitoneal spread are still missing. Our study was designed to evaluate the incidence and clinical significance of lymph node metastases in 33 patients with primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube. During primary surgery nine patients (27%) were submitted to systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy, whereas 24 received lymph node sampling. The clinicopathologic characteristics of the patients (intraperitoneal spread, grading, peritoneal cytology, depth of tubal infiltration and residual disease after primary surgery) were compared with lymphnodal status.
Overall 15 patients (45%) had positive nodes, that is, invaded by tumor; whereas 18 (55%) showed no lymphatic spread. Six patients (40%) had exclusively positive para-aortic lymph nodes; five (33%) had only tumor metastases in pelvic lymph nodes, three (20%) manifested simultaneously pelvic and para-aortic spread, and one patient with pure primary squamous cell carcinoma had a massive groin node metastasis as presenting sign of the tumor. The rate of lymphogenous metastases was not significantly related to progressive intra-abdominal dissemination, histologic grade or depth of tubal infiltration. On the other hand, the presence of residual disease after primary surgery and positive peritoneal cytology significantly increased the risk of nodal metastases. Patients with lymph node metastasis had a significantly ( P = 0.02) worse prognosis compared with patients without nodal involvement (median survival 39 vs 58 months).
Considering the high incidence of lymph node metastasis, correct staging of tubal carcinoma should include a thorough surgical evaluation of both pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes. The role of systematic lymph node dissection in the treatment of tubal carcinoma remains controversial.     

Lymph node metastasis in stage I epithelial ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVES: A relatively high incidence of para-aortic and pelvic lymph node metastasis is found in epithelial ovarian cancer. This paper investigates the clinicomorphological features of intra-abdominal stage I epithelial ovarian cancer that may predict the occurrence of lymph node metastasis and the prognosis of patients in whom lymph node metastases are identified. METHODS: From November 1988 to December 1997 we performed systematic para-aortic and pelvic lymphadenectomy as primary surgery in 47 patients with intra-abdominal stage I epithelial ovarian cancer. The incidence of lymph node metastasis in these patients and the clinicomorphological features of the patients with lymph node involvement were examined. RESULTS: Five patients (10.6%) were metastasis positive (IC: four; IA: one), of whom four had serous adenocarcinoma. Serous adenocarcinoma was associated with a significantly higher incidence of metastases than other histological types (P < 0.05). The number of positive lymph nodes was one in four patients and two in one patient, and the metastatic sites ranged from the para-aortic to the suprainguinal lymph nodes. All five metastasis-positive patients were alive and disease free at the time of this report (survival 28-85 months: median 59 months). CONCLUSION: This clinical study suggests that serous adenocarcinoma carries a high risk of lymph node metastasis, requiring systematic lymphadenectomy for accurate staging in intra-abdominal stage I epithelial ovarian cancer.     

Pattern and clinical predictors of lymph node metastases in epithelial ovarian cancer

Para-aortic lymphadenectomy is part of staging in early epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and could be part of therapy in advanced EOC. However, only a minority of patients receive therapy according to guidelines or have attendance to a specialized unit. We analyzed pattern of lymphatic spread of EOC and evaluated if clinical factors and intraoperative findings reliably could predict lymph node involvement, in order to evaluate if patients could be identified in whom lymphadenectomy could be omitted and who should not be referred to a center with capacity of performing extensive gynecological operations. Retrospective analysis was carried out of all patients with EOC who had systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy during primary cytoreductive surgery. One hundred ninety-five patients underwent systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. Histologic lymph node metastases were found in 53%. The highest frequency was found in the upper left para-aortic region (32% of all patients) and between vena cava inferior and abdominal aorta (36%). Neither intraoperative clinical diagnosis nor frozen section of pelvic nodes could reliably predict para-aortic lymph node metastasis. The pathologic diagnosis of the pelvic nodes, if used as diagnostic tool for para-aortic lymph nodes, showed a sensitivity of only 50% in ovarian cancer confined to the pelvis and 73% in more advanced disease. We could not detect any intraoperative tool that could reliably predict pathologic status of para-aortic lymph nodes. Systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy remains part of staging in EOC. Patients with EOC should be offered the opportunity to receive state-of-the-art treatment including surgery.     

Survival of ovarian carcinoma with or without lymph node metastasis

Because of the limited number of reports concerning the influence of retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis upon survival in patients with ovarian carcinoma, a prospective study was conducted between December 1975 and December 1982 to provide such information. This series consisted of 75 unselected patients with epithelial carcinoma of the ovary in all stages. Thirty-three patients had tumor-positive nodes and 42 had negative nodes. The two groups were compared with regard to stage of disease, grade of tumor, histology of tumor, residual disease after initial operation, finding at second-look laparotomy, and survival. All had initial maximal surgery and biopsy of para-aortic and pelvic nodes: most received postoperative chemotherapy. Follow-up was from 36 months to 10 years. Patients with positive nodes preferentially had more advanced disease (Stage III and IV). Grade 3 tumor, papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma, residual disease greater than 2%, low rate of second-look laparotomy, and death. Patients with negative nodes were connected with earlier disease (Stage I and II), nonserous tumor, minimal residual disease, high rate of second-look laparotomy, and survival. No patient with isolated nodal metastasis to pelvic or para-aortic survived. Only 18.2% with concomitant para-aortic and pelvic node involvements are currently alive, opposed to 64.3% with negative node. The results indicate that tumor-positive nodes in ovarian carcinoma are a poor prognostic factor and current combination chemotherapy is not effective. Alternative treatment for these patients should be considered.     

Combined use of magnetic resonance imaging,CA 125 assay,histologic type,and histologic grade in the prediction of lymph node metastasis in endometrial carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to predict retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis during the preoperative examination of patients with endometrial carcinoma and to determine whether lymphadenectomy must be performed. STUDY DESIGN: This study was carried out on 214 patients with endometrial carcinoma. Preoperative evaluators were volume index, depth of myometrial invasion (as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging), serum CA 125 level, histologic type, and histologic grade. With the use of receiver operating characteristic curves, cutoff values of volume index and serum CA 125 levels were determined. The relationships of these evaluators with pelvic lymph node metastasis were investigated by multivariate analysis with a logistic regression model. The relationships of these evaluators with para-aortic lymph node metastasis were investigated in the same way. RESULTS: Histologic type, volume index, histologic grade, and serum CA 125 level were found to be independent risk factors for pelvic lymph node metastasis; serum CA 125 level and volume index were found to be independent risk factors for para-aortic lymph node metastasis. Among 110 cases with no risk factors for pelvic lymph node metastasis, pelvic lymph node metastasis was observed in 4 cases (3.6%). On the other hand, only 1 case of 128 cases (0.7%) with no risk factors for para-aortic lymph node metastasis actually had metastasis. CONCLUSION: Careful consideration of the possibility of the elimination of the requirement of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy is needed in cases with no risk factors for lymph node metastasis. However, our results suggest that para-aortic lymphadenectomy may not be necessary in cases with no risk factors for para-aortic lymph node metastasis.     

Evaluation of cytoreductive surgery with pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy and intermittent cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy for improvement of long-term survival in ovarian cancer

The present study was designed in order to assess the therapeutic values of pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy in cytoreductive surgery and intermittent systematic chemotherapy combining cisplatin, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide, namely, intermittent PAC for improvement of the long-term prognosis of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. Intermittent PAC was administered every 3 months over a period of approximately 2 years. One hundred and fifty-five patients with epithelial ovarian cancer were enrolled in the study. The estimated 10-year survival rate of 42 patients with stage I or II ovarian cancer who received pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy and the intermittent PAC was significantly higher than that of 31 patients with the same stages who did not (83.9% vs. 61.1%, p<0.05). Similarly, the estimated 10-year survival rate of 38 patients with stage III or IV ovarian cancer who underwent the above-mentioned treatments was significantly high compared with that of 44 patients in the same advanced stages who did not (60.4% vs. 25.0%, p<0.01). As for pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy, there was no significant difference in the estimated 10-year survival rates between patients with and without retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis. Multivariate analysis revealed that the performance of pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy was the most important factor leading successful clinical remission of the advanced ovarian cancers. Cytoreductive surgery including pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy and to intermittent PAC were thus suggested to be capable of dramatically improving the long-term survival even in advanced epithelial ovarian cancers.     

腹主动脉旁淋巴结切除术在子宫内膜癌治疗中的临床意义

目的探讨子宫内膜癌患者腹主动脉旁淋巴结切除范围及其临床意义。方法回顾四川大学华西第二医院709例患者的临床-病理资料,随访217例行腹主动脉旁淋巴结切除患者的生存情况。结果多因素分析发现：淋巴脉管浸润及盆腔淋巴结转移是发生腹主动脉旁淋巴结转移的独立高危因素（P〈0.05）。腹主动脉旁淋巴结取样组,切除至肠系膜下血管水平组以及肾血管水平组术后10月生存率分别为：98.6%,94.3%和100.0%。结论中低分化、淋巴脉管转移、特殊病理类型、以及晚期子宫内膜癌患者建议切除腹主动脉旁淋巴结,其切除范围应至肾血管水平。     

Interstitial thermoradiotherapy in recurrent gynecologic malignancies

In patients with ovarian carcinoma, the presence of metastatic disease in a retroperitoneal lymph node is indicative of a poor prognosis. Although a “staging laparotomy” is required for proper treatment, definitive information concerning para-aortic and pelvic lymph node metastasis often is not available. To determine the incidence of retroperitoneal lymph node metastases in untreated cases of ovarian carcinoma, a prospective study by selective nodal biopsy was undertaken in 61 unselected patients with the following distribution: Stage I, 11; Stage II, 10; Stage III, 31; and Stage IV, 9. The incidence of para-aortic node metastasis overall was 37.7% and of pelvic node metastasis, 14.8%. Of 23 patients with positive para-aortic nodes, 30.4% had no concomitant pelvic node involvement. Direct relationships between nodal metastasis and clinical stage, tumor grade, and histologic type of tumor were demonstrated. The incidence of positive para-aortic nodes in Stage I disease was 18.2%; in Stage II, 20.0%; in Stage III, 41.9%; and in Stage IV, 66.7%. The corresponding incidence of pelvic node metastasis was 9.1% in Stage I, 10.0% in Stage II, 12.9% in Stage III, and 33.3% in Stage IV. Grade 3 tumors were associated most frequently with nodal involvement, with an incidence of positive para-aortic nodes of 52.5% and of positive pelvic nodes of 15.5%. In patients with a serous type of malignancy, the frequencies of positive para-aortic/pelvic nodes were 44.4%/16.7%, respectively; in the undifferentiated type, 50.0%/10.0%; in the clear cell type, 25.0%/25.0%; and in the mucinous type, 14.3%/ 14.3%. In this small series, 32 patients (52.5%) had positive retroperitoneal nodal involvement. It is concluded that selective biopsies of the para-aortic and pelvic lymph nodes should be part of any “staging laparotomy” for ovarian carcinoma, and that the true incidence of nodal involvement in these patients awaits further investigation.     

Lymph node metastasis in ovarian cancer: difference between serous and non-serous primary tumors

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the lymph node sites most susceptible to involvement relative to primary tumor histology in ovarian cancer. METHODS: The locations of metastatic lymph nodes were investigated in 208 patients with primary ovarian cancer who underwent systemic lymphadenectomy covering both the pelvic and para-aortic regions. RESULTS: Lymph node metastasis was present in 12.8% (20/156) of patients with stage I (pT1M0), 48.6% (18/37) with stage II (pT2M0), and 60% (9/15) with stage III (pT3M0) disease, thus in 22.6% (47/208) of all study patients. Isolated para-aortic nodal involvement was present in 23.3% (14/60) of patients with serous tumor and 4.1% (6/148) of those with non-serous tumor (P = 0.00002). In an analysis of 35 positive nodes from 25 patients with up to 3 positive nodes, 86.4% (19/22) of metastatic lymph nodes from patients with serous tumor were found in the para-aortic region, with 14 positive nodes located above the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and 5 below it, whereas metastasis to para-aortic lymph nodes accounted for 53.8% (7/13) of metastatic lymph nodes from patients with non-serous tumor (P = 0.0334). CONCLUSIONS: The locations of metastatic lymph nodes in ovarian cancer depend upon the histologic type of the primary cancer. In cases of serous tumor, the para-aortic region, particularly above the IMA, is the prime site for the earliest lymph node metastasis. However, the likelihood of pelvic node involvement is almost equal to that of para-aortic node involvement in cases of non-serous tumor.