Prognostic factors in patients with ovarian serous low malignant potential (borderline) tumors with peritoneal implants.

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to determine prognostic factors in a large series of patients with stage II or III serous low malignant potential ovarian tumor (LMPOT) and peritoneal implants.

METHODS

Patients with a serous LMPOT and peritoneal implants treated at or referred to our institution were retrospectively reviewed. The slides of ovarian tumors and peritoneal implants were reviewed by the same pathologist.

RESULTS

From 1969 to 2006, 168 patients were reviewed, 21 of whom had invasive implants. Tumors exhibited a micropapillary pattern in 56 patients. Adjuvant treatment had been administered to 61 patients. The median duration of follow-up was 57 months (range, 1-437). Forty-four patients had relapsed and 10 patients had died. The 5-year overall survival rate was 98%. Among patients with noninvasive and invasive implants, 8% and 10%, respectively, had relapsed at 5 years in the form of invasive disease (p = .08). In a multivariate analysis, the use of conservative treatment was the only prognostic factor.

INTERPRETATION

The prognosis of serous LMPOT with peritoneal implants remains good. The strongest prognostic factor in patients with an advanced-stage borderline tumor is the use of conservative surgery. In this series, a micropapillary pattern and implant subtype (invasive versus noninvasive) were not prognostic factors.