Retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis in patients with ovarian cancer

From 1979 to 1987 retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was performed at the Tokyo University Hospital in 41 cases (pelvic lymph node biopsy was done in 4 cases, pelvic lymphadenectomy in 23 cases, pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy up to the renal vessels in 14 cases) of Stage Ia to IV ovarian cancer following cytoreductive surgery. The incidence of retroperitoneal positive nodes was 11.1% (2/18) in Stage I, 50.0% (5/10) in Stage II, 50.0% (5/10) in Stage III and 0% (0/3) in Stage IV (FIGO criteria without considering the pathologic findings of retroperitoneal lymph nodes). The positive rate of lymph node involvement in Stage II and Stage III was significantly higher than that in Stage I. The tumors involving both ovaries were more likely to metastasize to retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Enlargement of tumors and increased ascites were not the risk factors of retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis. These data suggest that the occurrence of retroperitoneal lymphatic spread in ovarian cancer is comparable to that in uterine cancer and increased by involvement of both ovaries and extension to other pelvic tissues.