Definition

Cancer remains in the abdomen after surgery and at least one of the following is true: (1) cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the abdomen or pelvis; (2) cancer has spread to or through the surface of the peritoneum (the tissue that lines the abdominal cavity and covers most organs in the abdomen); (3) a biopsy of the tumor was done before it was removed; (4) the tumor broke open before or during surgery to remove it; (5) the tumor was removed in more than one piece; (6) cancer cells are found at the edges of the area where the tumor was removed; and/or (7) the entire tumor could not be removed because important organs or tissues in the body would be damaged.