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NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

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stage III ovarian low malignant potential tumor  listen  (… oh-VAYR-ee-un...muh-LIG-nunt poh-TEN-shul TOO-mer)

  The tumor is found in one or both ovaries and has spread outside the pelvis to other parts of the abdomen and/or nearby lymph nodes. Stage III is divided into stages IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC. In stage IIIA, the tumor is found in the pelvis only, but tumor cells that can be seen only with a microscope have spread to the surface of the peritoneum (tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers most of the organs in the abdomen), the small intestines, or the tissue that connects the small intestines to the wall of the abdomen. In stage IIIB, the tumor has spread to the peritoneum and the tumor in the peritoneum is 2 centimeters or smaller. In stage IIIC, the tumor has spread to the peritoneum and the tumor in the peritoneum is larger than 2 centimeters and/or has spread to lymph nodes in the abdomen. The spread of tumor cells to the surface of the liver is also considered stage III disease.