RATIONALE: Laparoscopic staging may help doctors plan more effective treatment for ovarian, primary fallopian tube, and primary abdominal cancers.

PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of laparoscopic staging in patients with ovarian, primary fallopian tube, or primary abdominal cancers who have not undergone complete staging.

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the feasibility of laparoscopic staging of patients with incompletely staged ovarian, primary fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers. II. Assess the adverse effects associated with this technique.

OUTLINE: Surgery. Laparoscopy with cytologic examination and lymph node sampling followed, if feasible, by surgical resection.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Up to 50 patients will be accrued over approximately 2 years. If more than 4 evaluable patients cannot complete surgery, the study will be closed.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: One of the following incompletely staged malignancies: Ovarian cancer of any cell type Primary fallopian tube carcinoma Primary peritoneal carcinoma No clinical evidence of metastases to abdominal organs, the adnexa, or retroperitoneal lymph nodes on CT with contrast or at prior abdominal surgery No metastases on chest x-ray No contraindications to laparoscopy, i.e.: No bowel obstruction No ileus No peritonitis No excessive obesity as indicated by a Quetelet Index over 35 (weight in kg/height in sqm) No diaphragmatic hernia on chest x-ray No grade 2 heart toxicity

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Adult Performance status: GOG 0 or 1 Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3,000/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no more than 1.5 mg/dL AST no more than 3 times normal Renal: Creatinine no more than 2.0 mg/dL Other: No second malignancy except nonmelanomatous skin cancer Not pregnant

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior or concomitant chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior or concomitant abdominal or pelvic radiotherapy Surgery: No prior retroperitoneal surgery No more than 10 weeks since initial abdominal surgery