The appendix and its metastatic potential in epithelial ovarian cancer.

The role of appendectomy in the management of epithelial ovarian cancer is unknown as a staging and cytoreductive procedure. In this series, the appendix was found to have metastatic disease in 40 of 78 patients (51%) and in 40 of 57 patients (70%) with advanced disease (stage III/IV). Occult or microscopic disease was found only in two patients (5%) with grossly normal appearing appendices. The appendix as a site of metastatic ovarian cancer is common with advanced stages (stage III/IV) and rare with early disease.