The goal of this observational study is to investigate the metastatic pathways of lymph node involvement in ovarian cancer patients. The main question it aims to answer is: • What are the sequential patterns of lymph node metastasis in ovarian cancer, and are there specific clinical factors associated with different metastatic pathways? Participants diagnosed with ovarian cancer who have undergone lymphadenectomy as part of their standard treatment will have their postoperative pathological lymph node involvement analyzed. The study will retrospectively collect and analyze patient data, including lymph node metastasis patterns, to identify potential progression routes.

Inclusion Criteria:i) initial diagnosis and tumor cytoreductive surgery performed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University; ii) confirmed postoperative pathology of epithelial ovarian cancer; iii) available lymph node status; and iv) accessible clinical features, including preoperative ultrasound and blood biochemistry tests

Exclusion Criteria: i) initial diagnosis or surgical treatment conducted at other hospitals; ii) absence of imaging results (CT/PET-CT/MRI) or postoperative pathology results for lymph node status. iii) presence of other cancers; and iv) incomplete medical history

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Patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2014 to December 2022 were included in this retrospective study. The inclusion criteria were as follows: i) initial diagnosis and tumor cytoreductive surgery performed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University; ii) confirmed postoperative pathology of epithelial ovarian cancer; iii) available lymph node status; and iv) accessible clinical features, including preoperative ultrasound and blood biochemistry tests. The exclusion criteria were: i) initial diagnosis or surgical treatment conducted at other hospitals; ii) absence of imaging results (CT/PET-CT/MRI) or postoperative pathology results for lymph node status. iii) presence of other cancers; and iv) incomplete medical history