The investigation of the factors affecting retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis in stage IIIC and IV epithelial ovarian cancer

Introduction  

The appropriate management of advanced ovarian cancer has been controversial in recent years. Lymphatic node involvement is known one of the most important prognostic factors in epithelial ovarian carcinomas. On the other hand in patients with advanced ovarian cancer involving the upper abdomen (with/without lymph node involvement) the evaluation of pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes does not contribute to the staging and more importantly it does not improve overall-survival.