Between 1973 and 1985, 118 patients in clinical remission after initial surgery and postoperative chemotherapy for epithelial ovarian carcinoma underwent second-look laparotomy at the University of North CaroIim. No evidence of disease (NED) was found in 57 of these patients; 43 patients received 15 mci of radioactive chromic phosphate C'P) suspension given intrapentoneally in the immediate postoperative period. In 29 other patients, only microscopic or minimal residual disease (nodules c 2 cm in size) was found, seven received 32P alone, ten received 32P and further chemotherapy, and 12 received chemotherapy alone. The 4-year postsecond-look survival of the patients with NED at second-look was 89% for those receiving "P and 67% for those who had not. The respective figures for patients with minimal residual d ~s e at second-look are 59% versus 22%. Irrespective of treatment, a group at high risk for failure after negative second-look laparotomy has been identified, those with an initial International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (F'ICO) stage >I and histologic m d e >1. A comparison of our data with 18 previously published series, indicates that use of postsecond-look intrapentoneal '*P can improve the progression-free interval, and possibly overall survival, of patients with NED or minimal residual disease without adding significant complications.