Early stage epithelial ovarian cancers: a study of morphologic prognostic factors.

We intended to reevaluate the morphologic prognostic factors for early-stage ovarian carcinomas. We reviewed 111 patients diagnosed with early-stage ovarian cancer who had undergone primary surgery at Hacettepe Hospital between 1984 and 2001, using diagnostic criteria from the WHO-2003 classification. We applied the Universal grading system suggested by Shimizu/Silverberg and noted FIGO-stage, histotype, tumor size, bilaterality, and endometriosis. These features were compared with each other and survival. The survival analysis was carried out by Kaplan-Meier curves. Of the cases, 52 were reclassified as 'borderline tumor' or 'cystadenoma with borderline foci' and 59 as 'invasive carcinoma'. FIGO-stage and mitotic count were significant for survivals of 59 patients with cancer. Mitotic index was also significant for the probability of metastasis. The patients with stage-II cancer had 5.65 times more risk of recurrence than stage-I cancer. The 5-year overall and disease-free survivals rates were 90.6% and 87.5% for stage-I, 54.7% and 39.3% for stage-II, respectively. Universal grade did not reach statistical significance for survivals but it was related to FIGO-stage significantly. In conclusion, FIGO-stage is the most reliable prognosticator. Although prognostic value of universal grade is not significant, mitotic count may provide important prognostic information for early-stage ovarian carcinomas.

Light and electron microscopic evaluation of cardinal ligaments in women with or without uterine prolapse.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: This study investigated light and electron microscopic findings in cardinal ligaments of women with or without uterine prolapse. METHODS: Cardinal ligament samples were obtained from hysterectomy specimens of ten women with and ten women without uterine prolapse. RESULTS: Light microscopy showed altered connective tissue properties in eight of ten women with prolapse and in only three of ten women without prolapse (p = 0.025). The alterations included loosely arranged connective tissue fibers and less dense extracellular matrix with sparsely distributed fibroblasts. Under electron microscopy, collagen fibers were more sparsely distributed and thicker in women with prolapse. Mean diameter of collagen fibers was 61.2 +/- 11.4 nm in women with prolapse while it was 52.5 +/- 6.1 nm in women without prolapse (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Uterine prolapse is associated with connective tissue alterations including total amount of connective tissue components and diameter and distribution of collagen fibers.

Human papillomavirus types in invasive cervical cancer specimens from Turkey.

The main aim of the study is to describe the human papillomavirus (HPV) type-specific distribution in invasive cervical cancer (ICC) specimens from Turkey. Paraffin-embedded ICC specimens were identified from the histopathologic archives of the Hacettepe University Medical School in Turkey. HPV detection was carried out through amplification of HPV DNA by a SPF-10 broad-spectrum primer polymerase chain reaction and subsequently followed by DNA enzyme immunoassay and genotyping by LiPA25 (version 1). Two hundred seventy-seven ICC cases diagnosed between 1993 and 2004 were retrieved. After histologic evaluation and human beta-globin gene analysis for sample quality, 248 cases were considered suitable for HPV/DNA testing. HPV prevalence was 93.5% (232/248; 95% confidence interval: 90.5%-96.6%). The five most common HPV types identified as single types among HPV-positive cases were HPV16 (64.7%), HPV18 (9.9%), HPV45 (9.9%), HPV31 (3.0%), and HPV33 (2.2%). The study shows that in Turkey, HPV16/HPV18 accounted for 75.4% (95% confidence interval: 69.9%-81.0%) of HPV-positive ICC cases. This information is essential to evaluate the potential impact of the HPV vaccines in the country.

Four synchronous female genital malignancies: the ovary, cervix, endometrium and fallopian tube.

OBJECTIVE: To present a unique case of a 63 year-old woman with coexistent adenocarcinoma of the ovary, endometrium, cervix and fallopian tube. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case report from a tertiary health center. RESULTS: A woman presenting with postmenopausal bleeding and abdominal distantion was assessed by endometrial biopsy and explorative surgery. The frozen section of the mass on the right adnex revealed malign mucinous carcinoma of the ovary. As usual, optimal debulking was performed as initial surgical staging procedure of ovarian cancer. The microscopic examination of the right ovary revealed a typical mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. Furthermore, the focal endometrial irregularity at the left uterine cornus turned out to be a well differentiated endometrial carcinoma of the endometrioid type with <1/3 myometrial invasion. The pale infiltrative lesion in the cervix also turned out to be an adenocarcinoma of the endocervical type with deep stromal invasion and areas of diffuse glandular dysplasia and in-situ glandular neoplasia at the periphery. Besides, several sections from the left fallopian tube uncovered diffuse dysplasia in the lining epithelium and a focus of adenocarcinoma with papillary and cribriform pattern. DISCUSSION: When compared with patients having metastatic lesions, most synchronous female malignancies are accompanied with early stage and low-grade with a more favorable prognosis. However, there is paucity of data for the exact criterion to distinguish primary tumors from metastatic lesions. In such cases, the validity of immunohistochemical and cloning studies are not clear.

Xanthogranulomatous endometritis: a challenging imitator of endometrial carcinoma.

Xanthogranulomatous inflammation is a distinguished histopathological entity affecting several organs, predominantly the kidney and gallbladder. So far, only a small number of cases of xanthogranulomatous inflammation occurring in female genital tract have been described, most frequently affecting the endometrium and histologically characterized by replacement of endometrium by xanthogranulomatous inflammation composed of abundant foamy histiocytes, siderophages, giant cells, fibrosis, calcification and accompanying polymorphonuclear leucocytes, plasma cells and lymphocytes of polyclonal origin. We present a case of a 69-year-old female complained of post menopausal bleeding and weight loss. Clinical preliminary diagnoses were endometrial carcinoma or hyperplasia and ultrasound was supposed to be endometrial malignancy, hyperplasia or pyometra by radiologist. Histopathological examination of uterus revealed xanthogranulomatous endometritis. Since xanthogranulomatous endometritis may mimic endometrial malignancy clinically and pathologically as a result of the replacement of the endometrium and occasionally invasion of the myometrium by friable yellowish tissue composed of histiocytes, knowledge of this unusual inflammatory disease is needed for both clinicians and pathologists.

Efficiency of immunohistochemical p16 expression and HPV typing in cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion grading and review of the p16 literature.

Diagnosing and grading cervical cancer precursors is challenging. This study investigates the presence of HPV infection, the expression of p16, and any correlation between these two findings. H&E-stained slides of cervical loop excision materials diagnosed as LSIL and HSIL were reviewed. An immunohistochemical panel consisting of p16 as well as of all HPV types and HR-HPV types was applied. Staining of p16 was evaluated according to distribution extent and degree of intensity. All HSIL cases and 80% of LSIL cases were positive for p16. In HSIL cases, the staining distribution was as follows: 50% full thickness, 45% basal, and 5% rare. The staining intensity for the same cases was strong in 70%, variable in 20%, and weak in 10% accordingly. In LSIL cases, staining distribution was basal in 58.3% and rare in 41.7%. None of the LSIL cases showed full thickness of p16 positivity. The staining intensity of the same cases was strong in 25%, variable in 16.7%, and weak in 58.3%. Of all cases, 48.6% were positive for screening kit (all HPV types), and 31.4% of all cases were positive for HR-HPV. The distribution of this positivity was 35% for HSIL and 26.6% for LSIL cases. The total HPV-type positivity rate was 48.6%, the distribution being 50% for HSIL and 46.6% for LSIL cases. p16 is a highly sensitive marker for cervical epithelial dysplasia. Strong and full thickness staining of p16 in the cervix epithelium is highly supportive of HSIL, while weak and basal/rare staining favors LSIL. All HPV-positive cases were also p16-positive, but no statistically significant relationship between HPV infection positivity and the intensity and distribution of p16 was found. HPV is not helpful in the grading of SIL, as an unignorable rate of HR-HPV positivity (26.6%) was detected in LSIL group.

Testosterone versus clobetasol for maintenance of vulvar lichen sclerosus associated with variable degrees of squamous cell hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic regimens and symptomatic response rates in patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus associated with variable degrees of squamous cell hyperplasia (mixed disease). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty-three women with biopsy-proven vulvar mixed disease were evaluated for this retrospective study. All patients were initially treated with topical fluorinated corticosteroids, and then 2% testosterone propionate in petrolatum or 0.05% clobetasol 17-propionate (44 (53%) versus 39 (47%)). RESULTS: The remission rates were 82 and 93% in the testosterone and clobetasol subgroups at the end of 6 months (p=0.112), respectively. The disease recurred in 8% of the patients. The recurrence rates in the testosterone and clobetasol arms were 13 and 5%, respectively (p=0.163). The histopathological review of the repeat vulvar biopsies of the patients without symptomatic relief revealed 6 (60%) patients with persistent disease, 2 (20%) with lichen sclerosus, 1 (10%) with atypical squamous hyperplasia, and 1 (10%) with VIN1. Two patients with recurrent disease and 2 patients with vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia I-II or atypical squamous hyperplasia were treated with skinning vulvectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Clobetasol resulted in higher remission and lower recurrence rates than those in testosterone therapy, although statistically significant differences were not obtained. In the evaluation of patients without symptomatic relief, the first step should be a vulvar biopsy to exclude the presence of atypical components.

Is there a correlation between tumor marker panel and tumor size and histopathology in well staged patients with borderline ovarian tumors?

AIMS: To investigate whether there is a correlation between serum tumor markers panel (CA 125, CA 19-9, CA 15-3, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)) and tumor size and histopathology in well staged patients with borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs). METHODS: Four tumor markers (CA 125, CA 19-9, CA 15-3, and CEA) were analysed clinically in 60 well staged patients with borderline ovarian tumor, for this retrospective observational study. RESULTS: Most patients had serous histology and early stage disease, and the mean age at the time of diagnosis was 40.70 years (range: 19-73). Twenty-nine patients (48.3%) had high CA 125 levels (>35 U/l), 15 patients (25%) had high levels of CEA (>4 ng/ml), 12 patients (20%) had high levels of CA 19-9 (>37 U/ml), and 9 patients (15%) had high levels of CA 15-3 (>30 ng/ml) at the time of initial surgery. The positive rate of CA 125, CA 19-9, CA 15-3, and CEA in serous tumor were 57.9, 7.9, 7.9 and 15.8%, respectively. These figures were 31.8, 40.9, 27.3 and 40.9% in mucinous tumor. The positive rate of CA 125 in the serous group was statistically significantly higher than that in the mucinous group, while the positive rates for CA 19-9 and CEA in mucinous histology was significantly higher than those in serous tumors. In case of grouping the tumor size as <4, 4.1-10 and >10 cm, the mean serum levels of tumor markers had significantly increased by increasing tumor size (p<0.05 for CA 125, and CA 19-9, p>0.05 for CA 15-3, and CEA). CONCLUSION: The high levels of tumor markers, especially for CA 125 and CA 19-9, may indicate the larger tumor size. The elevation of serum CA 125 may suggest serous tumors, while the high level of serum CA 19-9 and CEA may indicate mucinous BOTs.

The value of preoperative platelet count in the prediction of cervical involvement and poor prognostic variables in patients with endometrial carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE(S): To evaluate the relationship between preoperative platelet counts and prognostic factors extensively, among endometrial cancer patients, especially with respect to cervical involvement. METHODS: One-hundred fifty-five patients with endometrial carcinoma, who underwent surgery as the initial treatment consisting peritoneal cytology, total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, systematic pelvic-paraaortic lymphadenectomy, and omentectomy were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: There were no differences with respect to age, histological type (endometrioid vs. non-endometrioid), depth of myometrial invasion, peritoneal cytology, LVSI, and lymphatic metastasis. However, advanced stage (stages III and IV), poorly differentiated tumor grade (grade 3), the presence of cervical and adnexal involvements were associated with significantly higher median preoperative platelet counts. Accepting 325.000/microl platelet count as a threshold value, multivariate analysis revealed cervical involvement (P=0.008; OR=1.84, 95% CI:1.17-2.89) and presence of high grade histology (P=0.014; OR=2.23, 95% CI:1.18-4.23, for grade 3 disease) to be significantly associated with higher platelet count. At a cut-off value of 326.000/microl, 42.3% sensitivity and 82.8% specificity for the prediction of cervical involvement was observed under receiver operator characteristic curve method. CONCLUSION(S): Higher preoperative platelet counts, even in conditions with normal range (150.000-400.000/microl), may reflect poor prognostic factors such as cervical involvement and high grade among patients with endometrial carcinoma. Also, the higher platelet count should be taken into consideration for the necessity of radical hysterectomy.

Radical reoperation for invasive cervical cancer found in simple hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the patients with invasive cervical cancer found in simple hysterectomy and who were subjected to radical parametrectomy and upper vaginectomy with therapeutic lymphadenectomy. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients who underwent the radical parametrectomy and upper vaginectomy with therapeutic lymphadenectomy procedure from 1986 to 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 49.85 (range 38-72). The histopathological diagnoses were SCC, adenocarcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, endometroid carcinoma, and anaplastic carcinoma in 70.4%, 11.4%, 7.4%, 7.4%, and 3.7% of patients, respectively. Operative complications occurred in only five patients (18.5%). Following radical surgery, residual disease was found in 10 patients (37.03%). The lymph node involvement rate was 22.2% (6 patients). The recurrence rate was 7.4% (2 of 27 patients). The overall disease-free survival rate was 88.67%. The overall survival rate was 88.89%; it was significantly lower in the presence of the following factors: anaplastic carcinoma, vaginal apex metastasis, and pelvic lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION: This series suggests the excellent overall survival of patients that underwent radical surgery. We recommend the surgical treatment of such selected patients in experienced centers only with expert surgeons and primary adjuvant radiotherapy may be recommended in selected patients.

The role of reoperation in the management of endometrial carcinoma found in simple hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate our experience in patients with endometrial cancer found in simple hysterectomy. METHODS: Forty patients treated for endometrial cancer after simple hysterectomy were evaluated, retrospectively. Twenty-one patients (Group 1) underwent surgical staging procedure while 19 patients were not subjected to complementary surgical staging procedure (Group 2). RESULTS: The mean age was 53.80 years. Residual disease following reoperation was found in only four patients (19.0%). The three of them who were considered Stage IC (two Grade 1, one Grade 2) were found to be Stage IIIC and one patient who was considered Stage IB (Grade 2) was found to be Stage IIIC. The overall recurrence rates in Groups 1 and 2 were 4.8% versus 10.5% (P > 0.05). The overall disease-free survival rates were 95.24% in Group 1 and 87.50% in Group 2 (P > 0.05). Considering the patients who received postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (RT), the overall disease-free survival rates were 88.89% in Group 1 and 84.62% in Group 2 (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: We believe that complementary surgical staging may have benefit in patients with incompletely staged endometrial carcinoma excluding Stage IA G1 cases, since the recurrence rate has rising and disease-free survival estimate has decreasing tendencies in incompletely staged patients than that in complementary surgically staged ones.

The role of secondary cytoreduction in the treatment of ovarian cancer: Hacettepe University experience.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of secondary cytoreduction in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Secondarily, cytoreduced patients were retrospectively analyzed with respect to the clinicopathologic variables. RESULTS: A total of 64 patients were evaluated in this report. Multivariable analysis revealed 3 factors to be significant: optimal cytoreduction during primary (P = .003, odds ratio [OR]: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.14-0.66), secondary cytoreduction (P = .04, OR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.22-0.99), and the endometrioid histologic type (P = .005, OR: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.02-0.48). Intrinsic factors of the tumors (grade, stage, age), size, and number of recurrent tumors were nonsignificant. CONCLUSION: Secondary cytoreductive surgery should be offered in selected recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer patients. Further prospective randomized series are needed to determine specific recommendations.

Ligneous inflammation of the cervix: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Ligneous change of the genital tract is a very rare condition and may result in infertility. CASE: A 27-year-old woman presented with primary infertility and ligneous changes of the genital tract. Cervical and endometrial samples revealed subepithelial deposition of dense, amorphous, eosinophilic material associated with intensive inflammatory cell infiltration. Plasminogen functional activity was 16%. CONCLUSION: The clinician must be aware of the systemic nature of this disorder and the multisystem complications.

Atypical endometrial stromal cells related with a polypoid leiomyoma with bizarre nuclei: a case report.

We presented a polypoid leiomyoma with bizarre nuclei having atypical endometrial stromal cells adjacent to the leiomyoma. Although atypical stromal cells of the female genital tract have been described, to our knowledge, no lesion identical to ours has been reported thus far. These atypical cells may be mistaken for malignant cells on histologic examination, especially in small endometrial samples. To differentiate these kinds of atypical-featured lesions from sarcoma is important, especially in curettage materials. The etiology and precise nature of multinucleated giant cells and atypical stromal cells in the endometrium are unclear. To prevent radical surgery, pathologists must be familiar with these atypical cells in the female genital tract.

Recurrence and prognostic factors in borderline ovarian tumors.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the survival estimates and clinico-pathological variables in patients treated for borderline ovarian tumors. METHODS: The patients treated for borderline ovarian tumors were evaluated retrospectively. Data were obtained from hospital records and special gynecologic oncology forms. RESULTS: Overall, 100 patients were evaluated. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 41.7 (range, 19-84). Seventy one (71%) patients underwent surgical staging including 49 (49%) of them with comprehensive surgical staging, 22 (22%) with fertility-sparing surgery. Only 30 (30%) patients were unstaged. The histopathological diagnosis was serous, mucinous, and the other types of borderline ovarian tumor in 54 (54%), 39 (39%), and 7 (7%) of the patients, respectively. Seventy patients had stage IA (70%), 10 had stage IB (10%), 9 had stage IC (9%), 3 had stage IIIA (3%), and 8 had stage IIIC (8%) disease. The stage of only four patients in which disease confined to ovary was upgraded as stage IIIC following surgical staging procedure. The recurrence rate was found 3% (3). The overall disease-free survival rates of BOT in surgically staged (comprehensive, fertility-sparing surgery) and unstaged patients were 97.92%, 95.00%, and 96.30%, respectively. But, the overall tumor-free survival was significantly found to be decreased in cases of young age (<30 years old), performing fertility-sparing surgery and presence of micropapillary architecture or peritoneal implants. Overall survival rates of BOT in surgically staged (comprehensive, fertility-sparing surgery) and unstaged patients were 97.9%, and 100% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Low malignant potential ovarian tumors have excellent survival, and the patients can be treated safely by conservative surgery.

Activation of the canonical Wnt pathway during genital keratinocyte transformation: a model for cervical cancer progression.

Cervical carcinoma, the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide, is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV-infected individuals are at high risk for developing cervical carcinoma; however, the molecular mechanisms that lead to the progression of cervical cancer have not been established. We hypothesized that in a multistep carcinogenesis model, HPV provides the initial hit and activation of canonical Wnt pathway may serve as the second hit. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the canonical Wnt pathway as a promoting factor of HPV-induced human keratinocyte transformation. In this in vitro experimental cervical carcinoma model, primary human keratinocytes immortalized by HPV were transformed by SV40 small-t (smt) antigen. We show that smt-transformed cells have high cytoplasmic beta-catenin levels, a hallmark of activated canonical Wnt pathway, and that activation of this pathway by smt is mediated through its interaction with protein phosphatase-2A. Furthermore, inhibition of downstream signaling from beta-catenin inhibited the smt-induced transformed phenotype. Wnt pathway activation transformed HPV-immortalized primary human keratinocytes even in the absence of smt. However, activation of the Wnt pathway in the absence of HPV was not sufficient to induce transformation. We also detected increased cytoplasmic and nuclear staining of beta-catenin in invasive cervical carcinoma samples from 48 patients. We detected weak cytoplasmic and no nuclear staining of beta-catenin in 18 cases of cervical dysplasia. Our results suggest that the transformation of HPV expressing human keratinocytes requires activation of the Wnt pathway and that this activation may serve as a screening tool in HPV-positive populations to detect malignant progression.

Reactive nodular fibrous pseudotumor involving the pelvic and abdominal cavity: a case report and review of literature.

There are several entities that can present with multiple nodular lesions within the peritoneal cavity, such as "disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis," "peritoneal fibrosis," "calcifying fibrous pseudotumor," and the recently described lesion of "reactive nodular fibrous pseudotumor of the gastrointestinal tract and mesentery." Here we present one such lesion in a 28-year-old woman with a history of dysmenorrhea and ergotamine use for migraine attacks. Intraoperative exploration of our patient disclosed numerous nodules located throughout the pelvic and abdominal peritoneum. Histopathologically, these lesions were fibrocollagenous nodules composed of sparse wavy spindle cells within hyalinized "keloid-like" collagen surrounded by an inflammatory infiltrate. Some of the nodules were associated with small foci of endometriosis. We believe this lesion is best described by the term "reactive nodular fibrous pseudotumor" and that endometriosis and the use of ergotamine derivatives may be contributing factors.

Lymphatic metastasis in epithelial ovarian carcinoma with respect to clinicopathological variables.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors, and the patterns of lymphatic metastasis in EOC patients who were treated with systematic pelvic and paraaortic lymphatic dissection. METHODS: A total of 420 EOC patients was retrospectively evaluated. Clinical factors available were evaluated for a possible significance in terms of lymphatic metastasis and paraaortic involvement. RESULTS: Two-hundred and three patients were found to have lymphatic metastasis. In multivariable analysis, stage (P < 0.001), histology (P < 0.01 for serous; P = 0.02 for mixed, and P = 0.04, for Brenner), and Ca-125 level higher than 500 U/ml (P = 0.04) were found to be significantly related with the lymphatic involvement. Age and grade were significant factors for paraaortic metastasis both in univariable and multivariable analysis (P = 0.003 and P = 0.02, respectively). Most of the patients with unilateral tumors had contralateral pelvic and/or paraaortic metastasis. There were eleven patients with lymphatic metastasis in stage I-II disease, and five had paraaortic metastasis while an additional five patients had contralateral pelvic nodal metastasis. However, there was no lymphatic involvement in Stage IA, Grade I-II disease (0/63). Survival analysis revealed no significant difference by the number of metastatic lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: In multivariable analysis, lymphatic involvement was predicted independently by stage, histology, and Ca-125 level. In apparently stage I-II disease, a considerable part of patients were upstaged due to lymphatic involvement. Although routine systematic lymphadenectomy is suggested for patients with early stage disease, further series are needed for a definite regimen in patients with stage IA G1-2 disease since we did not detect any lymphatic involvement in this unique group.

Routine appendectomy in epithelial ovarian carcinoma: is it necessary?

OBJECTIVE: To detect risk factors for the appendiceal metastasis and to define the role of routine appendectomy in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 285 patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma who had undergone primary cytoreductive surgery including appendectomy were retrospectively evaluated. Appendiceal involvement was divided into 2 groups: gross and microscopic. Clinicopathologic variables were evaluated for possible significance in terms of appendiceal metastasis. A second analysis was performed using the same variables to detect a possible relation with microscopic metastasis. In a subgroup analysis, we also analyzed the role of routine appendectomy in patients with clinically early stage disease. RESULTS: One-hundred six patients were found to have appendiceal metastasis (37%). Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed stage of disease as the unique factor determining the appendiceal metastasis (P < .001). Five patients with apparently stage I-II disease were upstaged due to isolated appendiceal metastasis (4.9%). In the second analysis excluding the patients with gross involvement, ascites was an independent predictor of microscopic involvement (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Routine appendectomy is indicated in all epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients as part of the initial surgical staging procedure because of a considerable rate of upstaging in early stage disease and optimal cytoreduction in advanced stages. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-3.