Objective: To investigate the relationship between the prognosis of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC) and its ascites. Methods: Retrospectively analysis is performed for the clinical, pathological and followed up data of 101 in-patients suffering from epithelial ovarian cancer and operated with tumor debulking surgery in our hospital from January 1986 to December 1993. The patients was divided into two groups based upon the first laparotomy finding with ascites(62) or without(39). Age average, cell type, advanced proportion and survival rate of the patients are evaluated by a X2 test. Results: For age average and cell type, no statistical difference was noted. However, there were more advanced cases in ascites group than in the other (P<0.01). The 3-, 4- and 5-year survival in the no-ascites group were 87.02%, 73.42%, 57.10% respectively compared with 65.02%, 38.66%, 28.12% in the ascites group. The 5-year survival rate of stage I, II,III, IV patients in no-ascites group are 77%, 70%, 41.1%, 0 respectively, compared with that of 60%, 56.8%, 15.46%, 0 respectively in the ascites group. The results shows that 3-, 4-, and 5-year survival in no-ascites group were significantly higher than those in ascites group(P<0.01). Conclusion: Presence of ascites is a factor of poor prognosis for EOC.