Metastasis to para-aortic lymph nodes cephalad to the renal veins in patients with ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND: In patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, whether metastasis to para-aortic lymph nodes located cephalad to the renal veins (supra-renal PAN) should be classified as regional lymph node metastasis or distant metastasis remains controversial. This study was a preliminary retrospective evaluation of the pattern of supra-renal PAN metastasis in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: The subjects were 25 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, primary peritoneal cancer, or fallopian tube cancer who underwent systematic dissection of the para-aortic nodes, including the supra-renal PAN, and pelvic lymph nodes (PLN). Patient factors, perioperative factors, the number of dissected lymph nodes, and pathological lymph node metastasis were investigated. RESULTS: Supra-renal PAN metastasis was found in 4/25 patients (16.0%). None of the 14 patients with pT1 or pT2 disease had supra-renal PAN metastasis, while 4/11 patients (36.4%) with pT3 or ypT3 disease had such metastases. None of the patients had isolated supra-renal PAN metastasis, while patients with supra-renal PAN metastasis also had multiple metastases to the infra-renal PAN and PLN. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, supra-renal PAN metastases might be considered to be distant rather than regional metastases. Further studies are needed to better define the clinical significance of supra-renal PAN metastasis.