Clinico-morphological data on 714 cases of epithelial ovarian malignancy were evaluated. 558 patients (78.2%) revealed metastases at various sites in the course of primary treatment. Frequency of dissemination was significantly higher in patients over 40 years, postmenopausal ones and those with a shorter history of disease (duration of symptoms). A significantly higher frequency of metastatic spread was also observed in cases of bilateral involvement of the ovaries, invasion through the tumor capsule and into adjacent tissues and organs, adhesions, ascitis, hydrothorax, cystic-solid, solid and papillary growth patterns (vs relatively lower frequency for cystic tumors). Histologic type of tumor was of major importance, too.