Metastatic Inguinal Lymphadenopathy,Presenting as the Only Physical Evidence of Recurrent Ovarian Carcinoma

Abstract

Inguinal lymph node metastasis is a rare site of involvement in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. We discuss five patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer who presented with enlarged inguinal lymph nodes as the only physical evidence of disease recurrence. Four patients had involvement of the pelvic lymph nodes that were ipsilateral to the involved inguinal nodes. Inguinal–femoral lymphadenectomy significantly decreased the bulk of tumors in these patients. Involvement of the pelvic lymph nodes is a risk factor for recurrence of epithelial ovarian cancer in the ipsilateral inguinal lymph nodes. Surgical excision of the inguinal node metastasis may play a role in improving the survival of these patients.