Prognostic factors for patients with advanced stage serous borderline tumours of the ovary

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic factors for patients with advanced stage, low malignant potential ovarian tumour (LMPOT). Patients and methods: A retrospective review of 80 patients with serous LMPOT and peritoneal implants treated at or referred to our institution was carried out. Results: Sixty-five patients had non-invasive implants. Fifteen patients had invasive implants. Twenty-nine patients had stage II and 51 patients had stage III disease. Three patients died of evolutive invasive disease and four of complications of treatment. The only prognostic factor of progression to 'evolutive invasive disease' is the pathologic subtype of peritoneal implants. The 5-year rates of evolutive invasive disease in patients with non-invasive implants and invasive implants were 2% and 31%, respectively (P <0.002). Conclusions: In this series, the only prognostic factor for patients with advanced stage borderline tumour is the type of peritoneal implant. More patients died of the treatment's complications than of the disease itself. The patients' prognosis with non-invasive implants seems to be excellent, and conservative management could be discussed in younger patients. © 2003 European Society for Medical Oncology.