Anatomical and pathological study of retroperitoneal nodes in epithelial ovarian cancer

Management of retroperitoneal lymph nodes in the treatment of ovarian cancer

The mechanisms and clinical significance of lymph node involvement in ovarian cancer have been revealed since the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) introduced a new clinical staging including retroperitoneal lymph node status. The multiple directions of the lymph drainage pathway in ovarian cancer have been recognized. The incidence and pattern of lymph node involvement depends on the extent of disease progression and the histological type. Thus, it is difficult to specify a single node as the sentinel node. As a surgical approach, systemic lymphadenectomy is necessary to obtain accurate clinical stage, and it has obvious diagnostic value. Nevertheless, a recent large randomized trial in patients with advanced ovarian cancer revealed that systemic lymphadenectomy had no impact on survival compared with removing only macroscopic lymph nodes. Other factors, such as chemosensitivity, histological grade, and the size of residuals have also influenced survival in ovarian cancer. From the viewpoint of adverse effects and survival benefit, the efficacy of lymphadenectomy remains controversial. Therefore, further accumulation of clinical data is needed to establish the indications for lymph node dissection; when this procedure is done, it should be performed by experienced gynecologic oncologists at selected institutions.

Ovarian Carcinoma Presenting With Isolated Contralateral Inguinal Lymph Node Metastasis: A Case Report

Introduction: Ovarian carcinoma usually presents at an advanced stage with diffuse intraabdominal manifestations. We report a patient who presented with a right groin swelling. Clinical Picture: The only clinical abnormality was an enlarged right inguinal lymph node (3 x 2 cm), for which excision biopsy revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed an enlarged left ovarian lesion (9.0 x 6.4 cm). Treatment and Outcome: Laparotomy with total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy and partial omentectomy were performed. Histology confirmed left ovarian adenocarcinoma, consistent with the earlier histology of the right inguinal lymph node. There were no other sites of involvement. Postoperatively, the patient received adjuvant chemotherapy for treatment of FIGO Stage IIIc ovarian carcinoma and is clinically disease free 13 months after surgery. Conclusions: Ovarian cancer presenting with inguinal lymph node metastases is uncommon. Ovarian cancer which manifests solely as a contralateral inguinal lymph node metastasis has not been previously reported. This case illustrates a rare presentation of ovarian carcinoma, and underscores the need to consider ovarian carcinoma in the differential diagnosis of women with inguinal lymphadenopathy. Key words: Inguinal lymph node metastasis, Ovarian adenocarcinoma

Pelvic and aortic lymph node metastasis in epithelial ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

The appropriate management of advanced ovarian cancer has been controversial in recent years. There are no adequate data about the importance of lymphadenectomy and the appropriate sites for lymph node assessment. We sought to evaluate the distribution, size, and number of pelvic and aortic lymph node metastases in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review of 116 patients with stage IIIC or IV epithelial ovarian carcinoma treated at Mayo Clinic who underwent systematic bilateral pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy between 1996 and 2000.

RESULTS

Eighty-six (78%) of 110 patients who underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy were found to have nodal metastases in 422 (16%) of 2705 pelvic nodes that were removed. Eighty-four (84%) of 100 patients had documented aortic lymph node metastases in 456 (35%) of 1313 aortic nodes that were removed. Fifty-five (59%) of 94 patients had bilateral metastatic pelvic and aortic lymph nodes and bilateral aortic lymphadenectomy was conducted in 53 (72%) of 74 patients. The most representative group for detection of nodal metastases was the aortic group (83%) followed by the external iliac group (59%) and the obturator nodes (53%). There was no significant difference between the mean size of positive (1.8 cm) and negative nodes (1.6 cm). Thirty-seven patients had unilateral tumor, and 1 patient (7%) had contralateral node metastasis.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of positive nodes bilaterally and positive high aortic nodes indicates the need for bilateral pelvic and aortic node dissection (extending above the inferior mesenteric artery) in all patients regardless of laterality of the primary tumor.

Occult metastasis in early ovarian cancers: risk factors and associated prognosis

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to define risk factors associated with the occult metastasis in early stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC), and to compare the survivals in respect to occult metastasis.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective review of 169 patients with clinically early stage EOC was performed.

RESULTS

Overall, 53 patients (53/169, 31.4%) were upstaged. The most common occult metastasis was the lymphatic involvement (22/53; 41.5%). Overall, 64.1% (34/53) of these upstaged patients had unrecognized disease in the upper abdomen or retroperitoneal space. Multivariable analysis revealed 3 factors to be associated with occult metastasis: Ca-125 levels > or = 500 U/mL (P = .04), positive peritoneal cytology (P = .001), and grade III disease (P = .04). Five-year survival rates were 61.83% and 88.25%, respectively, in patients with or without occult metastasis. Among the upstaged patients, omental or peritoneal metastasis revealed the worst prognosis.

CONCLUSION

Proper surgical staging is an important issue in early stage ovarian cancers, particularly in patients with high Ca-125 levels, positive cytology, and high grade tumor.

Randomised study of systematic lymphadenectomy in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer macroscopically confined to the pelvis

No randomised trials have addressed the value of systematic aortic and pelvic lymphadenectomy (SL) in ovarian cancer macroscopically confined to the pelvis. This study was conducted to investigate the role of SL compared with lymph nodes sampling (CONTROL) in the management of early stage ovarian cancer. A total of 268 eligible patients with macroscopically intrapelvic ovarian carcinoma were randomised to SL (N=138) or CONTROL (N=130). The primary objective was to compare the proportion of patients with retroperitoneal nodal involvement between the two groups. Median operating time was longer and more patients required blood transfusions in the SL arm than the CONTROL arm (240 vs 150 min, P<0.001, and 36 vs 22%, P=0.012, respectively). More patients in the SL group had positive nodes at histologic examination than patients on CONTROL (9 vs 22%, P=0.007). Postoperative chemotherapy was delivered in 66% and 51% of patients with negative nodes on CONTROL and SL, respectively (P=0.03). At a median follow-up of 87.8 months, the adjusted risks for progression (hazard ratio [HR]=0.72, 95%CI=0.46–1.21, P=0.16) and death (HR=0.85, 95%CI=0.49–1.47, P=0.56) were lower, but not statistically significant, in the SL than the CONTROL arm. Five-year progression-free survival was 71.3 and 78.3% (difference=7.0%, 95% CI=–3.4–14.3%) and 5-year overall survival was 81.3 and 84.2% (difference=2.9%, 95% CI=−7.0–9.2%) respectively for CONTROL and SL. SL detects a higher proportion of patients with metastatic lymph nodes. This trial may have lacked power to exclude clinically important effects of SL on progression free and overall survival.

Left–right asymmetry in pelvic lymph nodes distribution: Is there a right-side prevalence?

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether pelvic lymph nodes have a left-right asymmetric distribution.

STUDY DESIGN

The oncologic databases of two gynecologic academic departments were used to identify consecutive patients undergoing pelvic systematic lymphadenectomy as part of the treatment for a variety of gynecologic malignancies. All procedures were carried out in a standardized fashion. Lymph node counts were retrieved from pathological reports.

RESULTS

Four hundred and twenty-eight women underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy during the study period. The median lymph node count was higher on the right side than on the left side [10 (0-33) versus 8 (0-29); P<0.0001]. A prevalence of right-sided nodes was found in 265 (61.9%) patients, while in 44 (10.3%) cases pelvic nodes were equally distributed on the two sides. The right-sided prevalence was significantly higher than the expected 50% in each type of malignancy and surgical technique subgroup. The right-sided prevalence was statistically significant even when the analysis was performed for different nodal groups [external iliac nodes: 5 (0-23) versus 4 (0-13), P=0.005; hypogastric and obturator nodes: 6 (0-17) versus 5 (0-19), P=0.04]. Moreover, nodal count was higher on the right than on the left in obese [10 (1-33) versus 8 (1-26), P=0.0002] and nonobese women [10 (0-32) versus 9 (0-29), P<0.0001].

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest the existence of a left-right asymmetry in pelvic lymph nodes distribution, with right-sided prevalence.

Compliance to clinical guidelines for early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer in relation to patient outcome

OBJECTIVES

To assess compliance to current surgical staging and adjuvant treatment guidelines for patients with early-stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma and its impact on overall survival.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed between 1991 and 1997 with early-stage ovarian cancer were recruited from the Regional Cancer Registry of the central region in the Netherlands. Demographic data, tumour characteristics, surgical findings and therapeutic data were abstracted from medical records. Patients were classified into optimal and non-optimal surgical staging. Overall survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier method. To adjust for age hazard ratios for overall survival were estimated with a Cox Proportional Hazards model.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-five patients were included in the study, 41 of them (32.8%) were optimally staged. Guidelines for adjuvant radio- or chemotherapy were adequately followed in all 62 grade I patients and in 44 out of 59 grade II and III patients (74.6%). During 734.6 person-years of follow up 31 patients died. Five-year overall survival figures were 97.6% in the optimally staged group and 68.5% in the non-optimally staged group. Patients who were non-optimally staged, had a significant higher risk to die than those who were optimally staged (HR: 7.4; 95% CI: 1.7-32.2). In patients with a grade II and III tumours, complete surgical staging still had a significant influence on survival (HR: 3.8; 95% CI 1.7-8.3). In women with grade II or III tumours, adjuvant radio- or chemotherapy administered in accordance to the guidelines did not improve overall survival regardless whether they were optimally staged or not.

CONCLUSION

Incomplete staging in early-stage ovarian cancer leads to gross mis-classification in grade II and III tumours and to a lesser extent in grade I tumours. This leads to undertreatment in both surgical and adjuvant therapy. Subsequently unnecessary deaths may occur. More effort must be put in identifying obstacles interfering with compliance of guidelines.

Lymph node metastasis in ovarian cancer: Difference between serous and non-serous primary tumors

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the lymph node sites most susceptible to involvement relative to primary tumor histology in ovarian cancer.

METHODS

The locations of metastatic lymph nodes were investigated in 208 patients with primary ovarian cancer who underwent systemic lymphadenectomy covering both the pelvic and para-aortic regions.

RESULTS

Lymph node metastasis was present in 12.8% (20/156) of patients with stage I (pT1M0), 48.6% (18/37) with stage II (pT2M0), and 60% (9/15) with stage III (pT3M0) disease, thus in 22.6% (47/208) of all study patients. Isolated para-aortic nodal involvement was present in 23.3% (14/60) of patients with serous tumor and 4.1% (6/148) of those with non-serous tumor (P = 0.00002). In an analysis of 35 positive nodes from 25 patients with up to 3 positive nodes, 86.4% (19/22) of metastatic lymph nodes from patients with serous tumor were found in the para-aortic region, with 14 positive nodes located above the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and 5 below it, whereas metastasis to para-aortic lymph nodes accounted for 53.8% (7/13) of metastatic lymph nodes from patients with non-serous tumor (P = 0.0334).

CONCLUSIONS

The locations of metastatic lymph nodes in ovarian cancer depend upon the histologic type of the primary cancer. In cases of serous tumor, the para-aortic region, particularly above the IMA, is the prime site for the earliest lymph node metastasis. However, the likelihood of pelvic node involvement is almost equal to that of para-aortic node involvement in cases of non-serous tumor.

Lymphatic metastasis in epithelial ovarian carcinoma with respect to clinicopathological variables

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors, and the patterns of lymphatic metastasis in EOC patients who were treated with systematic pelvic and paraaortic lymphatic dissection.

METHODS

A total of 420 EOC patients was retrospectively evaluated. Clinical factors available were evaluated for a possible significance in terms of lymphatic metastasis and paraaortic involvement.

RESULTS

Two-hundred and three patients were found to have lymphatic metastasis. In multivariable analysis, stage (P < 0.001), histology (P < 0.01 for serous; P = 0.02 for mixed, and P = 0.04, for Brenner), and Ca-125 level higher than 500 U/ml (P = 0.04) were found to be significantly related with the lymphatic involvement. Age and grade were significant factors for paraaortic metastasis both in univariable and multivariable analysis (P = 0.003 and P = 0.02, respectively). Most of the patients with unilateral tumors had contralateral pelvic and/or paraaortic metastasis. There were eleven patients with lymphatic metastasis in stage I-II disease, and five had paraaortic metastasis while an additional five patients had contralateral pelvic nodal metastasis. However, there was no lymphatic involvement in Stage IA, Grade I-II disease (0/63). Survival analysis revealed no significant difference by the number of metastatic lymph nodes.

CONCLUSION

In multivariable analysis, lymphatic involvement was predicted independently by stage, histology, and Ca-125 level. In apparently stage I-II disease, a considerable part of patients were upstaged due to lymphatic involvement. Although routine systematic lymphadenectomy is suggested for patients with early stage disease, further series are needed for a definite regimen in patients with stage IA G1-2 disease since we did not detect any lymphatic involvement in this unique group.

Lymph node spread in stage III or IV primary peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine the rates and topography of pelvic and para-aortic nodal involvement in patients with stage III or IV primary peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma (PSPC).

METHODS

Retrospective review of 19 women who underwent a systematic bilateral pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy.

RESULTS

The overall frequency of lymph node involvement was 63% (12/19). Eighteen patients underwent complete resection of peritoneal disease. Only 4 patients underwent this procedure as part of their initial surgery (before chemotherapy). The frequency of pelvic and para-aortic metastases was 58% (11/19) and 58% (11/19), respectively. When para-aortic nodes were involved, the left para-aortic chain above the level of the inferior mesenteric artery was the site most frequently involved (72%). The event-free survival of the 18 patients without macroscopic disease at the end of debulking surgery was significantly correlated with the nodal status. None of the patients with positive nodes developed recurrent disease in abdominal nodes.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of nodal involvement in patients with PSPC is high. The topography of nodal spread is similar to that of ovarian cancer. Lymphadenectomy has a prognostic value.

[Pelvic and para-aortic lymphatic involvement in tubal carcinoma: topography and surgical implications]

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to determine the topography of pelvic and para-aortic node involvement in Fallopian tube carcinoma (PFTC). This will help us to recommend appropriate surgical treatment options to the related patients.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

A retrospective study was performed on 19 women with PFTC who underwent a systematic bilateral pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy.

RESULTS

The overall frequency of lymph node involvement was 47% (9/19). The frequency of pelvic and para-aortic metastases was 21% (4/19) and 42% (8/19) respectively. The frequency of lymph node metastases according to the stage of the disease (stage I, II and III) was : 29% (2/7), 50% (1/2) and 60% (6/10) respectively. The left para-aortic chain above the level of the inferior mesenteric artery was the site most frequently involved (75%) when para-aortic nodes were involved.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

In patients with primary tubal carcinoma, the left para-aortic chain above the level of the inferior mesenteric artery is the most frequently involved. A complete lymphadenectomy (including all pelvic and para-aortic chains up to the level of the left renal vein) should be performed in patients with primary tubal carcinoma, even in patients with stage I disease.

Prise en charge chirurgicale des tumeurs épithéliales malignes de l’ovaire

The notoriously poor prognosis of ovarian cancer requires optimal management by a multidisciplinary gynecologic and oncologic surgical team. Ovarian cancers which appear to be of early stage must be accurately staged to be sure that no potential metastatic sites are missed. Such an omission may have grave consequences for disease progression and may reduce the chances of cure in young patients. With advanced-stage ovarian carcinoma, the challenge is to perform a detailed pre-operative staging of the extent of disease to enable neo-adjuvant chemotherapy when the disease is judged to be inoperable and/or the the general condition of the patient is unsuitable for surgery. Only patients who have had complete cytoreductive surgery to all affected areas in the abdomen can hope to have an acceptable 5 year survival rate of 50%.

Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node identification as related to the primary sites of lymph node metastasis in early stage ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the primary sites of lymph node (LN) metastasis in patients during the early stage of ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Study 1: patients with clinical stage I and II common epithelial ovarian carcinoma (n = 150) underwent systematic retroperitoneal LN dissection of the pelvic and paraaortic areas. The relationship between the incidence and location of LN metastasis and clinical and histological characteristics was examined. Study 2: we studied 11 women with endometrial or fallopian tube tumors. At laparotomy, activated charcoal solution was injected into the unilateral cortex of the ovary. Ten minutes later, the retroperitoneal spaces were opened and charcoal uptake within the pelvic lymph node (PLN) and paraaortic node (PAN) as far as the level of renal vein was examined.

RESULTS

Study 1: The incidence of LN metastasis by stage was 6.5% (8/123) in stage I and 40.7% (11/27) in stage II. Among 19 patients with LN metastasis, 14 had only PAN, 2 had only pelvic LN, and 3 had both PAN and PLN metastases. Metastasis was limited to the ipsilateral side in 12 (63%) patients, but was bilateral in 5 (26%) and contralateral to the neoplastic ovary in 2 (11%). Positive peritoneal cytology was significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with lymph node metastasis. Study 2: Lymphatic channels along the ovarian vessels were identified in all injected ovaries. Charcoal was deposited in the LN of all patients. The locations of these nodes included PAN in all patients, common iliac node in three, and external iliac node in one.

CONCLUSION

PAN is the primary site of LN metastasis in ovarian cancer. Bilateral PAN dissections are necessary to determine the extent of tumors even in stage I ovarian carcinoma.

Lymph node involvement in epithelial ovarian cancer: analysis of 276 pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomies and surgical implications

BACKGROUND

The purpose was to determine the factors influencing nodal involvement and topography of pelvic and paraaortic node involvement in ovarian carcinoma.

STUDY DESIGN

Between 1985 and 2001, 276 women with epithelial ovarian carcinoma underwent systematic bilateral pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy.

RESULTS

The overall frequency of lymph node involvement was 44% (122 of 276). The frequency of pelvic and paraaortic metastases were 30% (82 of 276) and 40% (122 of 276), respectively. The frequency of lymph node metastases according to the stage of the disease (stages I, II, and III + IV) were: 20% (17 of 85), 40% (6 of 15), and 55% (99 of 176), respectively. In patients with stage IA, IB, and IC disease, the rates of nodal involvement were 13% (8 of 60), 33% (4 of 12), and 38% (5 of 13), respectively. None of 15 patients with stage IA grade 1 disease had nodal involvement. None of the 20 patients with mucinous tumors confined to the ovary(ies) (stage I disease) had nodal involvement. When paraaortic nodes were involved, the left paraaortic chain above the level of the inferior mesenteric artery was the most frequently involved site (70 patients, 63%). One of nine patients (11%) with a macroscopic stage I unilateral tumor and paraaortic involvement had contralateral metastases.

CONCLUSIONS

Lymphadenectomy should be performed even in patients with stage IA disease. This procedure could be omitted in patients with mucinous apparent stage I disease and stage I grade 1 tumor. Lymphadenectomy should involve the whole pelvic and paraaortic chain up to the level of the left renal vein. A bilateral dissection should be performed even in cases of patients with a unilateral tumor.

Can we rely on the size of the lymph node in determining nodal metastasis in ovarian carcinoma?

This study endeavored to determine whether lymph node size is a reliable indicator in determining lymph node metastasis in common epithelial ovarian cancer. We reviewed pathologic sections of pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes removed from 104 ovarian carcinoma patients who underwent either primary surgical staging or secondary surgery from January 1994 to July 2001. All sections of each individual node were measured in two dimensions. The different sizes of nodes were studied statistically to determine the optimal sensitivity and specificity in predicting cancer metastasis. A nodal size of 10 mm was a specific point of interest. Of 2069 total nodes obtained, 110 nodes (5.3%) had metastatic cancer. More than half (55.4%) of these positive nodes had a nodal long axis of 10 mm and less. The sensitivity and specificity of nodal size at 10 mm were 44.5% and 81.1%, respectively. We conclude that lymph node size is not a good indicator in determining epithelial ovarian cancer metastasis. Mere sampling of only the enlarged nodes does not reflect the true positive incidence of nodal metastasis. To avoid inaccurate staging and improper management, complete lymph node dissection is proposed as part of surgical staging for ovarian cancer.

Biological markers in pT1 and pT2 ovarian cancer with lymph node metastases

OBJECTIVE

A relatively high incidence of pelvic and paraaortic lymph node metastases is found in patients with pT1 and pT2 ovarian cancer. This paper investigates the clinicomorphological parameters and the expression of various biological markers in these tumors in order to define possible risk factors for lymphatic dissemination.

METHODS

In a retrospective study we identified 51 patients with pT1 and pT2 ovarian cancer. All patients underwent total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, and systemic pelvic +/- paraaortal lymphadenectomy. The incidence of lymph node metastases in these patients and the clinicomorphological parameters of their tumors were examined. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression levels of the cell proliferation marker Ki-67, the cell adhesion molecules CD44s and CD44v6, and the oncoprotein HER2/neu of the tumors and their respective lymph node metastases.

RESULTS

Lymph node involvement was found in 5 of 26 patients with pT1 ovarian cancer and in 6 of 25 patients with pT2 ovarian cancer. Serous adenocarcinoma was associated with a significantly higher incidence of lymph node metastases than other histological types (chi(2) = 4.7, P = 0.03). No correlation was found between tumor grade and the lymph node status. High Ki-67 expression was significantly correlated with spread to the lymph nodes (chi(2) = 4.2, P = 0.04), whereas expression of CD44s, CD44v6, and HER2/neu was not related to the lymph node status. Survival analyses showed no difference in disease-free and overall survival in patients with lymph node metastases compared to those without lymph node metastases. No association was seen among histological type, tumor grade, and immunohistochemically detected Ki-67, CD44s, CD44v6, and HER2/neu expression on the one hand and disease-free and overall survival on the other hand.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that in early stage ovarian cancer the serous histological type and tumors showing a high Ki-67 expression carry a high risk of lymph node metastases. With respect to prognosis our data showed a minor role for Ki-67, CD44s, CD44v6, and HER2/neu expression and the occurrence of lymph node metastases in pT1 and pT2 ovarian cancer.

Early ovarian cancer: what is the staging impact of retroperitoneal node sampling?

BACKGROUND

Comprehensive surgical staging of apparent early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer includes peritoneal washings, biopsies, and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Unresolved is the relative frequency or importance of the lymph node dissection.

OBJECTIVES

(1) To determine the site(s) of microscopic metastatic disease in women undergoing a comprehensive staging for apparent early-stage cancer of the ovary; (2) to identify those women with metastases in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes alone.

METHODS

Between 1985 and 2000, we reviewed all records of women at cancer centres in Winnipeg, Ottawa, and Saskatoon who had undergone a "staging laparotomy" for an apparent early-stage IA epithelial cancer of the ovary. Histology, tumour grade, initial and final surgical stage, and the site(s) of metastatic disease were recorded for all cases.

RESULTS

Forty-three of the 128 women (34%) had a final surgical stage of II or III. Sixteen women had positive pelvic biopsies, while 19 had microscopic upper abdominal disease. Eight women had positive retroperitoneal nodes, and in only 2 of these women, disease was found in the retroperitoneal nodes alone. In the 8 women with nodal disease, 5 had grade 3 tumours and 6 had serous histology tumours.

CONCLUSION

Comprehensive staging is important to identify women with metastatic disease. Solitary nodal metastases are predominantly found in grade 3 and serous tumours.

Does systematic lymphadenectomy have a benefit on survival of suboptimally debulked patients with stage III ovarian carcinoma? A DEGOG* Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate whether systematic lymphadenectomy is necessary in suboptimally cytoreduced patients with stage III ovarian carcinoma.

METHODS

Prognostic significance and the effect on survival of systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy were investigated retrospectively in 61 suboptimally debulked patients with stage III ovarian carcinoma. All patients received platinum-based chemotherapy after surgery; 51 patients had been followed for > or =1 year, or until death. Survival curves were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method and were evaluated by log-rank test.

RESULTS

Most patients had stage IIIC disease (60.7%), poorly differentiated tumor (45.9%), and serous histological type (59%). Systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy was performed in 29 patients (47.5%). Lymph node metastases were found in 17 (58.6%) patients; the median number of metastatic nodes was 7 (5-10). Lymph node metastasis was significantly higher in patients with residual disease of >2 cm (P < 0.05). Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy was not a significant prognostic factor (P > 0.05). In lymph node-dissected patients, survival was significantly longer in patients with minimal residual tumor than in those with residual tumor size >2 cm (P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

Lymphadenectomy seems not to have an evident prognostic value and a benefit on survival in suboptimally debulked patients with stage III ovarian carcinoma.

[Results and fertility after conservative treatment of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer]

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to assess the clinical outcome and fertility in patients managed conservatively for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

PATIENTS

Datas of 42 patients treated conservatively for EOC were reviewed. Thirty-seven followed-up patients with complete data were analyzed. Optimal surgical staging was performed in two cases during the initial surgery and in 33 patients during a reassessment surgery. Six patients underwent a hysterectomy during this restaging surgery.

RESULTS

Among 31 patients treated conservatively following the restaging surgery, the FIGO staging distribution was: 24 stage IA (grade 1 n = 10; grade 2 n = 12; grade 3 n = 2); two stages IC; two stage II and two patients with initial stage unknown. Ten patients recurred (eight on the remaining ovary). The disease free survival at five years for patients with stage IA grade 1 and two tumors were respectively 89 and 66%. All patients with stage > IA recurred. Only five pregnancies (four spontaneous and one following IVF procedure) were obtained.

CONCLUSION

Conservative surgery for patients with EOC could be considered in young patient with stage IA grade 1 disease adequately staged and desiring to preserve fertility potential but should not performed in patients with FIGO stage > IA.

Role of lymphadenectomy in ovarian cancer

The exact role of lymphadenectomy in the management of ovarian cancer has been the object of controversy during recent years. The International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology has indicated that pelvic and para-aortic lymph node sampling is an integral part of the staging system of ovarian cancer. On the other hand the advantage of systematic sampling, resection of bulky nodes only, or no lymphadenectomy in terms of recurrence rate and survival of ovarian cancer patients has not yet been clearly defined. Thanks to the analysis of clinical studies on systematic lymphadenectomy, detailed anatomical studies to assess the location of lymph nodes and lymphatic spread have been recently reported. In this chapter we report the available data on clinical anatomy and pathological assessment of lymph node and lymphatic spread of ovarian cancer metastasis; we also review the clinical data on correlation of lymph node metastasis and disease status. Surgical techniques developed during years of dedication to this procedure are also described. Finally, we review and discuss the actual benefits of lymph node dissection in patients with ovarian cancer, analysing previously reported and ongoing trials.

Results of conservative treatment in epithelial ovarian carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to assess and evaluate the clinical outcome and fertility in patients treated conservatively for epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC).

METHODS

Thirty-one patients treated with conservative management EOC were followed up. Optimal surgical staging was performed in 2 cases during the initial surgery and in 27 patients during a reassessment surgery. Six patients underwent hysterectomy during this restaging surgery.

RESULTS

Among 25 patients treated conservatively after the restaging surgery, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging distribution was 19 Stage IA (Grade 1, n = 9; Grade 2, n = 10), 1 Stage IC, 2 Stage II, and 3 patients with initial stage unknown. Seven patients had recurrence (five on the remaining ovary). The disease free survival rate at 5 years for patients with Stage IA Grade 1 and 2 tumors were 89% and 71%, respectively. All patients with Stage IA or higher disease experienced recurrence. Only four pregnancies (three spontaneous and one after in vitro fertilization procedure) were obtained.

CONCLUSIONS

Conservative surgery for patients with EOC could be considered in young patients with Stage IA Grade 1 disease adequately staged and desiring to preserve fertility potential. This procedure should not performed in patients with disease staged higher than FIGO Stage IA.

Pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy

Pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy for gynecologic malignancies has changed from a random "picking" of some pelvic and aortic lymph nodes to a well-established technique based on adequate knowledge of the patterns of spread of the primary tumor. The identification of the node groups to remove, the number of nodes to count, and the border of dissection in the different clinical situations make pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy a reproducible surgical intervention. The large experience accumulated over the years has greatly improved the technique and perioperative and complication management. The improved knowledge of the natural history of gynecologic tumors has refined the indications for lymph node dissection. Today, pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy is primarily a staging procedure. The therapeutic value of lymphadenectomy is recognized in the surgical treatment of cervical cancer, but it is still under evaluation in ovarian and endometrial tumors.

Does paraaortic lymphadenectomy have a benefit in the treatment of ovarian cancer that is apparently confined to the ovaries?

We conducted a retrospective review of all epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients with disease that is apparently confined to the ovaries who were treated in the Obstetric and Gynecologic Hospital of the University of Tours. In our hospital, no lymphadenectomies for such epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients are carried out. We studied the survival of these patients that were operated upon from 1 December 1975 until 1 August 1997. 43 epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients were studied; 22 were stage Ia, 1 was stage Ib and 20 were stage Ic. The average age was 58 years (range 27-86 years). 5% (2/43) developed recurrent disease and the rates of disease-free and overall survival after 5 years were 83% and 90.3% respectively. These results are very close to those described in literature for patients who underwent paraaortic and pelvic lymphadenectomy. As no series to date has demonstrated the benefit of paraaortic lymphadenectomy on survival and we know that paraaortic lymphadenectomy increases morbidity, we think it reasonable to propose surgery without lymphadenectomy for the treatment of early ovarian epithelial cancer patients whose disease is apparently confined to the ovaries.

Pattern of lymph node metastases in clinically unilateral stage I invasive epithelial ovarian carcinomas

PURPOSE

There is controversy regarding the pattern of lymphatic spread in unilateral stage I invasive ovarian carcinomas. The purpose of this study is to describe the incidence and distribution of lymph node (LN) metastases in ovarian carcinomas clinically confined to one ovary.

METHODS

Ninety-six patients with disease visibly confined to one ovary were identified. Pathology reports were reviewed to identify metastatic LN involvement, number of involved nodes, and their locations. Patients with gross disease in the pelvis or abdomen or those who had grossly positive LNs removed for debulking were excluded from this review.

RESULTS

Fourteen of ninety-six patients (15%) had microscopically positive LNs on pathologic review. All of these 14 patients had grade 3 tumors. Grade 3 tumors were more commonly seen in LN-positive versus LN-negative patients (P < 0.001). Pelvic nodes were positive in 7 patients (50%), paraaortic nodes in 5 patients (36%), and both in 2 patients (14%). Forty-two patients had LN sampling only on the side ipsilateral to the neoplastic ovary, 4 of whom (10%) had LN metastases. Fifty-four patients had bilateral sampling performed, 10 of whom (19%) had LN metastases. Of these 10 patients, isolated ipsilateral LN metastases were seen in 5 (50%) cases. Isolated contralateral LN metastases were seen in 3 (30%) cases, and bilateral metastases were seen in 2 (20%).

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort of patients with clinical stage I ovarian carcinoma with disease limited to one ovary, bilateral LN sampling increased the identification of nodal metastases. Ipsilateral sampling may result in the understaging of patients. Bilateral pelvic and paraaortic LN sampling is recommended to accurately stage ovarian carcinoma.

Lymph node metastasis in stage I epithelial ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVES

A relatively high incidence of para-aortic and pelvic lymph node metastasis is found in epithelial ovarian cancer. This paper investigates the clinicomorphological features of intra-abdominal stage I epithelial ovarian cancer that may predict the occurrence of lymph node metastasis and the prognosis of patients in whom lymph node metastases are identified.

METHODS

From November 1988 to December 1997 we performed systematic para-aortic and pelvic lymphadenectomy as primary surgery in 47 patients with intra-abdominal stage I epithelial ovarian cancer. The incidence of lymph node metastasis in these patients and the clinicomorphological features of the patients with lymph node involvement were examined.

RESULTS

Five patients (10.6%) were metastasis positive (IC: four; IA: one), of whom four had serous adenocarcinoma. Serous adenocarcinoma was associated with a significantly higher incidence of metastases than other histological types (P < 0.05). The number of positive lymph nodes was one in four patients and two in one patient, and the metastatic sites ranged from the para-aortic to the suprainguinal lymph nodes. All five metastasis-positive patients were alive and disease free at the time of this report (survival 28-85 months: median 59 months).

CONCLUSION

This clinical study suggests that serous adenocarcinoma carries a high risk of lymph node metastasis, requiring systematic lymphadenectomy for accurate staging in intra-abdominal stage I epithelial ovarian cancer.

Value of lymph node assessment in ovarian cancer: Status of the art at the end of the second millennium

Available data on the incidence and the clinical value of lymph node assessment in ovarian cancer are reported. In early ovarian cancer, positive nodes are found in 4-25% of patients. Serous adenocarcinoma and poorly differentiated tumors are characterized by the highest incidence of node metastases. Five-year survival for stage IIIC disease with only retroperitoneal spread is clearly better than for stage IIIC with intraperitoneal dissemination. In advanced ovarian cancer, the rate of node involvement ranges from 55 to 75%. The percentage of positive nodes is significantly related to the amount of residual tumor after cytoreductive surgery, and node status seems to be an important prognostic factor for survival. Although data from retrospective studies advocate a therapeutic effect for systematic lymphadenectomy, results from prospective randomized trials are warranted. After chemotherapy a high percentage of patients (range, 25-77%) are found to have metastatic nodes. In particular, at second-look laparotomy, positive nodes are detected in 17-40% of patients who have no intraperitoneal disease.

Surgical staging of early invasive epithelial ovarian tumors

Early stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma is defined pathologically as a tumor strictly limited to one or both ovaries without any extra-ovarian disease (i.e., Stage IA or B of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification). This diagnosis can be obtained only after an exhaustive surgical staging procedure, performed as soon as the diagnosis of epithelial invasive ovarian carcinoma is established. This staging surgery currently encompasses a peritoneal cytology, the thorough inspection of all the visceral and parietal peritoneal surfaces with biopsy of any abnormality, total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH + BSO), random peritoneal biopsies, omentectomy, appendectomy and bilateral pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomies, up to the left renal vein. The results of this staging procedure and its indications are discussed. In all of the cases, the radical removal of the pathologic adnexa is indicated, along with the complete peritoneal and retroperitoneal staging. While fertility-sparing surgery (avoiding hysterectomy and contralateral adnexectomy, if possible) seems to be safe for young women, a TAH + BSO is the rule for the others. Adjuvant chemotherapy can be omitted in well-differentiated tumors with a negative staging operation, but currently it remains indicated in all other cases. Indeed, the ultimate goal in early stage ovarian carcinoma is to not impair by inadequate management the high chance of a cure.

Cytoreductive surgery for advanced stages of ovarian cancer

During the past two decades, maximum cytoreductive surgery (also called debulking surgery) has been the recommended surgical approach for advanced stages of ovarian carcinoma. The residual tumor volume after surgery is one of the strongest prognostic factors, and only patients who undergo complete or optimal surgery are likely to be long-term survivors (i.e., 50% after five years). A well-trained surgeon in the field of gynecologic oncology can achieve an optimal tumor reduction in up to 75% of patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer. During the procedure, bowel resection, especially rectosigmoid, must be undertaken in 30% to 40% of cases, and para-aortic and pelvic lymphadenectomy should be performed after adequate tumor reduction in the abdominal cavity. The experienced surgeon can perform these surgeries with an acceptable morbidity, allowing chemotherapy to be undertaken within the month following surgery. However, very advanced cancer with massive peritoneal carcinomatosis and/or Stage IV disease requires a very aggressive surgical procedure but yields a poor prognosis and a higher risk of unacceptable complications. For these worst cases, the concept of cytoreductive surgery is moving toward the alternative strategy of chemosurgical cytoreduction, in which interval cytoreductive surgery is undertaken after three cycles of front-line chemotherapy. The goal of this experimental strategy is to achieve a complete tumor response after front-line chemosurgical therapy, and a better quality of life.

Role of appendectomy in predicting lymph node metastases in patients with ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of appendectomy in predicting lymph node metastases in women undergoing cytoreductive procedures for ovarian cancer.

STUDY DESIGN

In 127 consecutive patients with ovarian carcinoma appendectomy was performed in 30 patients over a period of 5 years. Eight of them were found to have metastases to the appendix. Pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy was performed in 34 patients, in 24 of them the appendix was removed during primary surgery.

RESULTS

Among 19 patients without metastases to the appendix the lymph nodes were positive in five cases (26.3%) and among five patients with metastases to the appendix the lymph nodes were positive in four cases (80.0%), which is not a significant difference. Evaluation of the appendiceal metastases as a predictor of lymph node metastases in patients with ovarian cancer gives a sensitivity of 44%, a specificity of 93%, a positive predictive value of 80%, a negative predictive value of 74% and an accuracy of 75%.

CONCLUSION

The possibility of predicting retroperitoneal lymph node metastases in ovarian cancer on the basis of histological examination of the appendix is limited.

[Pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy in epithelial ovarian cancer. Report of a series of 86 cases]

AIM OF THE STUDY

The impact of lymphadenectomy in therapeutic strategy of ovarian carcinomas is strongly debated. The aim of this retrospective study was to report a series of 86 patients with ovarian carcinoma who underwent pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

From 1993 to 1998, a retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy was performed in 86 patients (median age: 54 years) during the first laparotomy (n = 52) or later (n = 34) for ovarian carcinoma stade I and II (n = 33), stade III and IV (n = 53). Sixty patients underwent pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy with separate study of the different groups of nodes.

RESULTS

There was a lymph node involvement in 48.8% of all cases and in 36% of stade I and II carcinomas. Lymph node involvement was observed for all histological types. It was present in both pelvic and paraaortic nodes in 52.3% of the patients N+. Its incidence was 46.1% in patients before chemotherapy and 52.9% in patients after chemotherapy. It may concern all anatomical location with a 5 to 31% frequency. There was no postoperative death and a low morbidity rate (13.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy is feasible; it is a contribution to the tumoral cytoreduction and to a better classification of ovarian carcinomas. According to this series and to the other reported series, an initial, complete, pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy should be recommended for all cases of ovarian carcinomas but prospective randomised trials are necessary to appreciate the impact of this lymphadenectomy on survival.

Contralateral pelvic and aortic lymph node metastasis in clinical stage I epithelial ovarian cancer

Bilateral pelvic and aortic node lymphadenectomy is recommended for clinically localized unilateral epithelial ovarian adenocarcinoma (International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians stage IA). The laterality of nodal metastasis in clinical stage I disease is rarely documented in the literature. Some authors have reported that ipsilateral node dissection is adequate for staging. A patient with contralateral pelvic and aortic lymph node metastasis and clinical stage I epithelial ovarian adenocarcinoma is presented. Pathologic findings were consistent with contralateral-only lymph node metastasis. This case illustrates the importance of bilateral lymph node sampling for appropriate staging of clinically localized epithelial ovarian cancer.

Role of preoperative transvaginal sonography, color flow imaging, and Doppler waveform analysis in predicting lymph node metastases in patients with ovarian cancer

The aim of this prospective study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal sonography, color flow imaging, and Doppler waveform analysis of adnexal tumors in predicting lymph node metastases in women undergoing laparotomy for ovarian cancer. In 30 consecutive women undergoing pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy due to ovarian cancer, the morphology of the adnexal mass was evaluated preoperatively with transvaginal sonography. Besides conventional gray-scale analysis as well as localization and intensity of angiogenesis, the resistance index (RI) was computed on the arteries detected with color flow imaging. There were 20 (66.7%) patients with negative and 10 (33.3%) patients with positive lymph nodes. The differences in maximal tumor diameter, maximal thickness of tumor wall, echographic structure, or presence of ascites between both groups of patients were not significant. There was no significant difference in the presence or absence of tumor vascularization between both groups of patients. In both groups of patients the mean value of the lowest RI was 0.37. Also, the difference in frequency of RI </= 0.40 between both groups of patients was not significant. Using conventional echographic analysis as well as color flow imaging and Doppler waveform analysis of adnexal tumors, according to the author's experience it was not possible to predict lymph node metastases in patients with ovarian cancer.

Significance of lymph node sampling in epithelial carcinoma of the ovary

From 1979 to 1984, 127 patients operated on for ovarian cancer underwent pelvic, para-aortic, or pelvic and para-aortic lymph node sampling. Forty-seven patients proved to be stage I(14 IA and 33 IC), 14 were stage II(3 IIA, 8 IIB, and 3 IIC), 58 were stage III (7 IIIA, 13 IIIB, and 38 IIIC), and 8 were stage IV. Positive lymph nodes were found in 4.2% of patients at stage I, 35.7% at stage II, 41.3% at stage III, and 87.5% at stage IV. With regard to grading, positive lymph nodes were found in 4.4% of G1, in 21.6% of G2, and in 49.1% of G3. A significant increase in survival (P = 0.04) was found for patients classified as stage IIIC only according to lymph node involvement compared to patients in peritoneal stage IIIC with positive lymph nodes (3-year survival: 46% vs 12%). A small increase in survival was observed for N- patients compared to N+ patients, at both stage III and IV, even with same residual tumor size, but the difference is not statistically significant. All other things being equal, because the prevalence of lymph node positivity depends closely on the number of lymph nodes removed and examined (OR = 3.9 for >10 lymph nodes removed compared to 1-5 lymph nodes removed), lymph node sampling does not seem to be a reliable method for evaluating the retroperitoneal status. With regard to the therapeutic role of systematic lymphadenectomy, few data in literature are available and, most important, are not derived from experimental studies. Probably, only randomized studies with a large number of patients will provide useful answers.

Relationship between pelvic lymph node involvement and other disease sites in patients with ovarian cancer

In 109 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, 25 (23%) had pelvic lymph node (PLN) metastasis. Positive rates of PLN metastasis according to the clinical stage based on disease distribution except retroperitoneal lymph node were 2% for stage I, 6% for stage II, 44% for stage III, and 64% for stage IV. The nine disease sites, such as subdiaphragmatic surface, liver and spleen capsule, intestine and mesentery, omentum, pelvic peritoneum, sigmoid colon and rectum, uterus and tubes, peritoneal cytology, and paraaortic lymph node (PAN), were found to have a statistically significant relationship with PLN metastasis by univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis using a logistic regression model selected the omentum and PAN as independent factors with a statistical significance. The incidence of PLN metastasis in epithelial ovarian cancer with the above two parameters can be assumed to be greater than that without the two parameters by 42.6 times. The present data suggested that for the disease with PAN and/or omental metastasis, removal of the PLN may be mandatory from the standpoint of cytoreduction.

Systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy in advanced ovarian cancer patients with no residual intraperitoneal disease

A comparative non-randomized study was carried out to evaluate the role of systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy (SL) on patients with no residual intraperitoneal disease (NRID) of advanced ovarian cancer (stage IIIC-IV). A total of 142 optimally cytoreduced patients (macroscopic disease absent on peritoneal surface) were divided into two groups: Group A, consisting of 98 patients (53 previously untreated and 45 pretreated at other Institutions), who underwent SL; Group B, consisting of 44 patients (21 previously untreated and 23 pretreated at other Institutions), who did not undergo SL. Each group had statistically equivalent histology, grading, performance status and variety of cytoreductive operations performed. Group A pretreated patients had a greater number of stage III than Group B (P = 0.03). Systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy could be carried out with an acceptable morbidity and no mortality. All 142 patients received post-operative chemotherapy including carboplatin. The number of chemotherapy sessions did not differ between the two groups. Comparison of survival revealed that SL significantly improved the survival of previously untreated patients (P = 0.02). The survival was significantly different with nodal status (P = 0.006). Cox's proportional hazard analysis showed that only systematic lymphadenectomy was a significant covariate. The survival was not significantly different in Group A vs Group B pretreated patients; however, it was significantly different with respect to nodal status (P<0.001). Cox's proportional hazard analysis showed that only the initial stage of disease was a significant covariate. The results of the present study shows that aggressive surgical cytoreduction with SL could be therapeutic in previously untreated patients with NRID. Currently, an international prospective randomized study is ongoing to clarify definitively the clinical role of SL.