Radiolabeled Folic Acid and Imaging to Detect Ovarian Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Suspected ovarian cancer OR Recurrence of ovarian cancer Scheduled for exploratory surgery PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Zubrod 0-2 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: WBC at least 3000/mm3 Granulocyte count at least 1500/mm3 Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2.0 mg/dL SGPT and SGOT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN No acute hepatitis Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.4 mg/dL BUN no greater than 1.5 times ULN No known or suspected kidney disease Cardiovascular: No history of congestive heart failure No unstable angina No myocardial infarction within 6 months Other: Not pregnant or nursing No septicemia or severe infection No medical condition that would preclude the administration of large fluid volumes over a short period of time PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: At least 3 months since prior cytotoxic chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: At least 3 months since prior radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics Other: At least 2 days since prior folic acid supplements At least 5 days since nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications