Lymph node metastasis in stage I ovarian carcinoma.

One hundred and sixteen cases of stage I ovarian cancer from 6 hospitals in China were investigated for their lymph node metastasis from September, 1982 to April 1991. Of them, 70 had epithelial tumor, 36 malignant germ cell tumor, 8 gonadal stroma, and 2 undifferentiated tumor. Ovarian tumor confined to one ovary (stage Ia) in 89 patients, both ovaries involved (stage IIb) in 6, and documented stage Ic in 21. Systemic lymphadenectomy involving all pelvic groups of node together with aortic lymph node was accomplished in 82 patients. In the remaining 34 patients, pelvic lymph node dissection was performed. The incidence of lymphatic metastasis was 10.3% in this series. Serous cystadenocarcinoma was the most common lesion. All patients were followed up for at least half year. The mortality rate in patients with and without lymph node metastasis was 8.3% and 2.8% respectively. The clinical significance of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in early ovarian carcinoma was discussed.