Pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodal positivity in the ovarian carcinoma: its prognostic significance.
Our study is based on 29 patients with ovarian carcinoma in early stage (IA-IIB) having undergone total abdominal hysterectomy, with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, appendectomy and pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy selective and bioptic. Out of the 29 patients 11 were classified I stage and 18 II stage. Within 3 years, out of 10 patients with node metastases, 1 is alive and free of disease, 6 deceased from the tumor and 3 are alive with residual tumor at various stages of invasion. Out of the 19 patients without nodes metastases 14 are alive and free of disease, 4 deceased from the tumor and 1 is alive with residual carcinoma. Survival related to histological type shows no statistically significant differences. Grading III has a survival of 27.6%, while the other two grades have a survival of 70% without significant differences. We can affirm that lymph nodes metastases represent the most reliable marker of high risk patients among the 3 risk factors (grading, histotype and nodes metastases) even if considered on a limited number of patients on the basis of preliminary data so obtained.