LYMPH-NODE METASTASIS IN STAGE-I OVARIAN-CARCINOMA

One hundred and sixteen cases of stage I ovarian cancer from 6 hospita ls in China were investigated for their lymph node metastasis from Sep tember, 1982 to April 1991. Of them, 70 had epithelial tumor, 36 malig nant germ cell tumor, 8 gonadal stroma, and 2 undifferentiated tumor. Ovarian tumor confined to one ovary (stage Ia) in 89 patients, both ov aries ivolved (stage IIb) in 6, and documented stage Ic in 21. Systemi c lymphadenectomy involving all pelvic groups of node together with ao rtic lymph node was accomplished in 82 patients. In. the renaining 34 patients, pelvic lymph node dissection was performed. The incidence of lymphatic metastasis was 10.3% in this series. Serous cystadenocarcin oma was the most common lesion. All patients were followed up for at l east half year. The mortality rate in patients with and without lymph node metastasis was 8.3% and 2.8% respectively. The clinical significa nce of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in early ovarian carcinoma was discussed.