OBJECTIVETo analyze the retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis in epithelial cancer of the ovary and offer scientific indications for lymph node radical dissection.

METHODSFifty-eight patients with ovarian cancer treated from January 1990 to December 2000 were retrospectively reviewed. Single-factor and multifactor analysis with Logistic regression model were performed by SPSS 10.0 statistic software.

RESULTSThe metastasis rates of overall lymph nodes, pelvic nodes and para-aortic nodes were 48.3%, 37.9% and 25.9% respectively, among which no significant difference was noted (P > 0.05). Single-factor analysis showed that tumor location, ascitic condition, clinical stage and the size of residual tumor were associated with retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis. Multifactor analysis revealed that clinical stage and size of residual tumor were independent risk factors for metastasis of retroperitoneal lymph nodes.

CONCLUSIONFor early ovarian cancer patients, it is extremely important to perform radical dissection of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. For advanced or residual lesions, radical dissection of pelvic nodes and para-aortic nodes could be considered in the second exploration.