[Therapeutic results of second-look laporatomy with extensive dissection of retroperitoneal lymph nodes in ovarian cancer patients].

Objective: To evaluate retrospectively the results of extensive lymphadenectomy during second-look laparotomy in patients with ovarian cancer.
Methods: An total of 63 patients with ovarian malignancies received second-look laparotomy (SLL). Retroperitoneal lymph nodes, including para-aortic nodes below the level of left renal vein and pelvic nodes were extensively dissected.
Results: Of the 63 patients, residual tumor was found in 24 (38.1%) 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 the degree of differentiation of tumor cells. Lymph node metastasis was pathologically confirmed in 19 cases (30.2%), in which no residual tumor was found in 8 patients. Tumor recurred in only 4 of the 39 patients (10.3%) with negative SLL. The overall 3- and 5-year survival rate was 75.4% and 68.3%, respectively.
Conclusion: Extensive retroperitoneal lymph node dissection is recommended during SLL. It favors a decrease in recurrence rate in ovarian cancer patients negative on SLL.