Relevance of enlarged cardiophrenic lymph nodes in determining prognosis of patients with advanced ovarian cancer

BMJ Case Rep. 2018 Jan 13:2018:bcr2017221450. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2017-221450.

Abstract

Ovarian cancer often presents at an advanced stage with widespread peritoneal and/or extra-abdominal metastases. Complete cytoreduction is the mainstay of treatment for disease confined to peritoneum. But in patients with distant metastases, the role and rationale is less obvious. One of the the most common sites of extra-abdominal disease is the cardiophrenic lymph node (CPLN). In this paper, we described the management of a patient with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IVB epithelial ovarian carcinoma and widespread peritoneal and extra-abdominal metastases to the CPLN, who underwent complete cytoreduction including excision of enlarged CPLN, following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We examined the literature to determine the prognostic value of enlarged CPLN and their relevance in managing patients with advanced ovarian cancer and found it as an adverse prognostic factor. Transdiaphragmatic excision of CPLN is feasible without major complications. But as its correlation with overall or progression-free survival is not yet evident, large-scale prospective studies are warranted.

Keywords: gynecological cancer; surgical oncology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Abdominal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Abdominal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Adult
  • Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial
  • Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures
  • Diaphragm
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymph Node Excision
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology*
  • Neoadjuvant Therapy
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / pathology*
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / secondary
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / therapy
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / secondary
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / therapy
  • Pericardium
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Prognosis