In the period from 1981 to 1986, 85 patients with ovarian carcinoma stage I and II were treated in a prospective study. All patients underwent primary surgery: bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, hysterectomy and omentectomy followed by a staging procedure. In 46 patients, the staging was completed by a retroperitoneal lymph-node dissection, whereas in 39 patients, this procedure was omitted. Total abdominal irradiation (25 Gy/1.50 Gy per fraction) was followed by a pelvic boost dose (25 Gy/1.75 Gy per fraction). Patients with stage I and IIa well differentiated tumours received no adjuvant radiotherapy and are not reported here. The 5-year actuarial recurrence-free survival rate for the irradiated group was 75%. Stage according to FIGO appeared to be of significant prognostic influence. There was no difference in survival between completely and incompletely staged patients. Serious (small) bowel complications occurred however in 6 out of 45 patients who had undergone complete staging.