Outcomes after conservative treatment of advanced-stage serous borderline tumors of the ovary

Ann Oncol. 2010 Jan;21(1):55-60. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdp267. Epub 2009 Jul 16.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the outcomes of the largest series of patients treated conservatively for a stage II or III serous borderline ovarian tumor.

Materials and methods: From 1969 to 2006, 41 patients were treated conservatively for an advanced-stage serous borderline ovarian tumor. Patient outcomes were reviewed.

Results: Twenty patients had undergone a unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, 18 a unilateral cystectomy and two bilateral cystectomy (unknown for one patient). Three patients had invasive implants. The median duration of follow-up was 57 months (range 4-235). The recurrence rate was high (56%), but overall survival remained excellent (100% at 5 years, 92% at 10 years). One death had occurred due to an invasive ovarian recurrence. Eighteen pregnancies (nine spontaneous) were observed in 14 patients.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates that spontaneous pregnancies can be achieved after conservative treatment of advanced-stage borderline ovarian tumors (with noninvasive implants) but the recurrence rate is high. Nevertheless, this high rate has no impact on survival. Conservative surgery can be proposed to patients with a borderline tumor of the ovary and noninvasive peritoneal implants. Should infertility persist following treatment of the borderline tumor, an in vitro fertilization procedure can be cautiously proposed.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / mortality*
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / pathology
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / surgery*
  • Female
  • Fertility
  • Gynecologic Surgical Procedures
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / epidemiology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / surgery
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Pregnancy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult