Background and Objectives: ovarian cancer comprise 4% of all women cancer and 34% amongst gynaecological tract cancer. Lymphatic dissemination to the pelvic and para-aortic lymph node seen in usually advanced stage disease. Retroperitoneal lymph node involvement occur in approximately 50% to 80% of women with advanced ovarian cancer. The role of routine lymph node dissection is still not clear in interval debulking surgery.

Materials and Methods: all ovarian histologically proven adenocarcinoma cases receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy and undergoing debulking surgery with or without routine lymphadenectomy operated during the period 2013-14 were included in the study and divided into control and cases arm. Outcome measurement were done in relation to progression-free survival (PFS) to detection of progression of disease or death with number of hospital stay peri-operative and postoperative complication.

Results: Lymph node dissecting group of patients showed longer intraoperative period with significant amount of blood loss with longer hospital stay without any benefit over overall and progression free survival.

Conclusion: a routine pelvic lymphadenectomy for stage III and IV ovarian cancer during interval debulking has no advantage over recurrence and progression or overall survival and is associated with higher morbidity.

Keywords: ovarian carcinoma, pelvic lymphnodadenectomy, paraaortic lymphadenectomy

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Dimpy Begum

Fellow Department of Gynaecologic Oncology, Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati, Assam, India

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