RESULTS OF SECOND-LOOK LAPAROTOMY WITH EXTENSIVE DISSECTION OF RETROPERITONEAL LYMPH NODE IN OVARIAN CANCER PATIENTS

Objective: To evaluate retrospectively the results of extensive lymphadenectomy during second-look laparotomy on patients with ovarian cancer. Methods: A total of 63 patients with ovarian malignancies received second-look laparotomy (SLL). Retroperitoneal lymph nodes, including pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes below the level of left renal vein, were extensively dissected. Results: of the 63 patients, residual tumor was found in 24 (38.0%) on SLL. The frequency of residual tumor was positively correlated with the clinical stage and with the amount of tumor left after initial debulking but not with degree of differentiation of tumor cells. Lymph node metastasis(LNM) was pathologically confirmed in 19 cases (30.2%), of which no residual tumor was found in & patients. Tumor recurred in only 4 of the 39 patients (10.3%) with negative SLL. The overall 3- and 5-year survival rate were 75.0% and 68.0%, respectively. Conclusion: Extensive retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was recommended during SLL. It favored a decrease in recurrence rate in ovariall cancer patients negative on SLL.