Prognostic Impact of Mesenteric Lymph Node Status on Digestive Resection Specimens During Cytoreductive Surgery for Ovarian Peritoneal Metastases

BACKGROUND: The most common mode of ovarian cancer (OC) spread is intraperitoneal dissemination, with the peritoneum as the primary site of metastasis. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with chemotherapy is the primary treatment. When necessary, a digestive resection can be performed, but the role of mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) in advanced OC remains unclear, and its significance in treatment and follow-up evaluation remains to be determined. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of MLN involvement in patients who underwent digestive resection for OC peritoneal metastases (PM) and to investigate its potential prognostic value. METHODS: This retrospective, descriptive study included patients who underwent CRS with curative intent for OC with PM between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2020. The study assessed MLN status and other clinicopathologic features to determine their prognostic value in relation to overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: The study enrolled 159 women with advanced OC, 77 (48.4%) of whom had a digestive resection. For 61.1% of the patients who underwent digestive resection, MLNs were examined and found to be positive in 56.8%. No statistically significant associations were found between MLN status and OS (p = 0.497) or PFS ((p = 0.659). CONCLUSIONS: In anatomopathologic studies, MLNs are not systematically investigated but are frequently involved. In the current study, no statistically significant associations were found between MLN status and OS or PFS. Further prospective studies with a systematic and standardized approach should be performed to confirm these findings.