One hundred and two patients with epithelial ovarian carcinomas treated at Yonsei University College of Medicine from January 1966 through December 1985 were retrospectively reviewed. Stage and tumor grade were found to be highly significant prognostic factors. Other important prognostic factors included residual tumor volume and transcapsular extension. Age and the presence of ascites were prognostic factors of marginal importance. The present study proposes that accurate surgical staging is mandatory at initial surgery and that tumor grading should be included in the FlGO classification of epithelial ovarian cancers. Improved surgical management to reduce the residual tumor volume is important for advanced tumor stage. In early tumor stages, more effective treatment should be reserved for patients with transcapsular extension. Prospective investigation is necessary for further subset analysis.