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

BackgroundThe 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 methodsFrom 1969 to 2006, 41 patients were treated conservatively for an advanced-stage serous borderline ovarian tumor. Patient outcomes were reviewed.ResultsTwenty 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.ConclusionsThis 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.