Long-term outcomes following conservative surgery for borderline tumor of the ovary: a large population-based study

Clinical Characteristics, Surgical Management, and Outcomes of Borderline Ovarian Tumours: A Retrospective Observational Study from North East London

Background: Borderline ovarian tumours (BOTs) are a unique subset of epithelial ovarian neoplasms characterised by atypical epithelial proliferation without stromal invasion. BOTs are typically diagnosed at an early stage, primarily affect women of reproductive age, and have a favourable prognosis. This study aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics, surgical management, and outcomes of BOTs in a North East London cohort. Methods: A retrospective, multicentric analysis was conducted on 69 patients with histologically confirmed BOTs managed between January 2018 and December 2022 across the Barts Health NHS Trust hospitals. Clinical and demographic data, surgical details, histopathological findings, and recurrence rates were analysed. We used descriptive and exploratory statistical methods. Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 44 years, with 46.37% under 40, including 18 nulliparous women. Most tumours (91.3%) were FIGO stage I, with mucinous histology predominating (56.52%), followed by serous BOTs (27.53%). Ultrasound and MRI demonstrated 65.45% and 81.5% sensitivities for borderline or malignant features, respectively. Surgical approaches included open surgery (75.4%), laparoscopy (17.4%), and robotic-assisted procedures (2.9%). Fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) was performed in all nulliparous women under 40 years of age. Recurrence occurred in 2 cases, both in patients with prior FSS performed over a decade earlier. Conclusions: FSS is a viable option for young women, especially if nulliparous and under the age of 40, with recurrence rates comparable to radical procedures. Most patients were diagnosed early (FIGO I) with excellent prognoses. MRI proved most sensitive for diagnosis, while long-term follow-up with transvaginal ultrasound and CA-125 monitoring is crucial for detecting recurrences.

Oncofertility and Fertility Preservation for Women with Gynecological Malignancies: Where Do We Stand Today?

Oncofertility is a growing medical and research field that includes two main areas: oncology and reproductive medicine. Nowadays, the percentage of patients surviving cancer has exponentially increased, leading to the need for intervention for fertility preservation in both men and women. Specifically, gynecological malignancies in women pose an additional layer of complexity due to the reproductive organs being affected. In the present review, we report fertility preservation options with a cancer- and stage-specific focus. We explore the drawbacks and the necessity for planning fertility preservation applications during emergency statuses (i.e., the COVID-19 pandemic) and comment on the importance of repro-counseling for multifaceted patients during their oncological and reproductive journey.

Borderline tumours of ovary and fertility preservation-Outcomes from a tertiary care center in India

OBJECTIVE

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOT) are characterized by atypical epithelial proliferation without stromal invasion and majority are diagnosed in women of reproductive age group desirous of fertility preservation.

METHODS

A retrospective review of medical records of patients diagnosed with BOT and on regular follow up at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi, during a nine-year study period from March 2014 to March 2023 was performed. Surgical treatment was classified as radical or fertility sparing surgery (FSS). Surgical staging was defined as complete, partial or un-staged.

RESULTS

Median age of 91 women was 34 years. Follow up period ranged from 4 to 222 months (median 77 months). Among 68 premenopausal women, 31 (46 %) underwent radical surgery and FSS in 37 (54 %) cases. Median time to conception in 29 women with future fertility wishes was 13 months (range, 4 to38 m). Seven of 29 cases (29 %) required ovulation induction. The pregnancy rate was 82.7 % and live birth rate was 80 %. Eight cases (8.7 %) had a recurrence (7- un-staged, 1- partially staged) and median time to recur was 36 months. There was no significant difference in recurrence between cystectomy/oophorectomy. Ovary was the site of recurrence in all surgically salvaged cases except peritoneal cavity in 1 case with mortality. Relapse free survival at 5 and 10 years in FSS and radical surgery group were similar.

CONCLUSION

FSS is a safe procedure and should be considered in young patients desirous of future fertility along with a comprehensive peritoneal staging. Reproductive outcomes are excellent.

The impact of adjuvant antihormonal therapy versus observation on recurrence of borderline ovarian tumors: A retrospective cohort study

Objectives

Adjuvant management of borderline ovarian tumors (BOT) after surgical diagnosis and staging is not standardized. While many patients undergo observation alone, some providers have introduced the use of adjuvant antihormonal therapy for BOT, extrapolating from studies suggesting improvement in progression-free survival in the low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma population. We hypothesized that adjuvant antihormonal therapy after surgical diagnosis of BOT would improve progression-free survival compared to surveillance alone.

Methods

This is a retrospective review of BOT at one academic institution over thirteen years comparing management with antihormonal therapy, including aromatase inhibitors, progestins, and selective estrogen receptor modulators, to surveillance alone. Patients with concurrent malignancy were excluded. Data were abstracted from electronic medical records. Groups were compared by bivariate statistics.

Results

We identified 193 patients with BOT. Of these, 17 (8.8%) were treated with adjuvant antihormonal therapy and 24 (12.4%) recurred. Patients treated with antihormonal therapy were more likely to be obese (64.7% vs 37.9%, p = 0.032), have advanced-stage disease (70.6% vs 11.4%, p < 0.001), serous histotype (94.1% vs 59.4%, p = 0.005) or microinvasion (29.4% vs 9.7%, p = 0.030), and less likely to have undergone fertility-sparing surgery (18.8% vs 51.7%, p = 0.012). Use of antihormonal therapy was not associated with a difference in recurrence or survival.

Conclusions

This study is the first retrospective cohort review of adjuvant antihormonal therapy in BOT. We found that adjuvant antihormonal therapy for BOT is not associated with recurrence. While this single institution retrospective cohort study may lack the power to confirm or refute benefit, further studies could evaluate whether a subpopulation exists in whom antihormonal therapy is worthwhile.

Lymph Node Involvement in Recurrent Serous Borderline Ovarian Tumors: Current Evidence, Controversies, and a Review of the Literature

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) account for 10-20% of epithelial ovarian neoplasms. They are characterized by their lack of destructive stromal invasion. In comparison to invasive ovarian cancers, BOTs occur in younger patients and have better outcome. Serous borderline ovarian tumor (SBOT) represents the most common subtype of BOT. Complete surgical staging is the current standard management but fertility-sparing surgery is an option for SBOT patients who are at reproductive age. While most cases of SBOTs have an indolent course with favorable prognosis, late recurrence and malignant transformation can occur, usually in the form of low-grade serous carcinoma (LGSC). Thus, assessment of the recurrence risk is essential for the management of those patients. SBOTs can be associated with lymph node involvement (LNI) in up to 30% of patients who undergo lymph node dissection at diagnosis, and whether LNI affects prognosis is controversial. The present review suggests that recurrent SBOTs with LNI have poorer oncological outcomes and highlights the biases due to the scarcity of reports in the literature. Preventing SBOTs from recurring and becoming invasive overtime and a more profound understanding of the underlying mechanisms at play are necessary.

Management of Borderline ovarian tumors (BOT): results of a retrospective, single center study in Switzerland

BACKGROUND

Borderline tumors are malignant epithelial ovarian tumors with a very low incidence. Thus experience in diagnostics and treatment is still rare. The aim of this study was to present and analyze data of women with borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) regarding clinical features, histological characteristics, diagnostics and treatment management.

METHODS

In this single center retrospective study women with BOT treated at the Departement of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Kantonsspital Luzern between 2011 and 2018 were analyzed according to their clinical and histological reports.

RESULTS

A total of 42 women were enrolled. The median age was 58.5 with a range from 26 to 85, of which 31 (73.8%) were postmenopausal. Regarding the histological subtypes, 23 women (54.8%) had serous and 15 (35.7%) had mucinous BOT. Seromucinous histology was found in 3 patients (7.1%) and endometrioid in 1 woman (2.4%), respectively. All women underwent surgery. In a total of 39 women (92.9%) a complete surgical staging for BOT was performed. In 29 women (69.0%) staging was performed by laparoscopy, 13 (31.0%) underwent laparotomy. The mean follow up was 52 months (range = 16.3-101.4 months). During this period two patients, initially diagnosed in FIGO stage 1, recurred after 21.7 and 44 months, respectively, the second woman died after 53 months because of the BOT.

CONCLUSION

In the present study women were treated according to the international therapy recommendations and the rate of recurrence was very low. The most common risk factors for relapse are known to be FIGO stage, incomplete staging and peritoneal implants but were not present in our group. Thus further studies are necessary to investigate additional recurrence risks.

Progression of Cystadenoma to Mucinous Borderline Ovarian Tumor in Young Females: Case Series and Literature Review

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To study the progression of benign ovarian lesions to mucinous borderline ovarian tumors (mBOTs); analyze the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis, and management of mBOTs in pediatric and adolescent girls; and provide a review of the literature on mBOTs in this population.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review of female adolescents younger than 18 years diagnosed with mBOTs between July 2017 and February 2021.

SETTING

Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut; and Yale New Haven Health Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, Connecticut.

PARTICIPANTS

Three female patients diagnosed with mBOTs between ages 12 and 17 years.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Clinical presentation, preoperative characteristics, surgical technique, histology, tumor stage, treatment, progression, outcome, and rate of recurrence.

RESULTS

Three adolescent patients were identified to have mBOTs. All three patients presented with a chief complaint of abdominal pain. One of the 3 patients was premenarchal at presentation. Two of the 3 patients were initially diagnosed with a mucinous cystadenoma and had recurrences of an ovarian cyst in the same ovary within 5 and 17 months, respectively. Pathology of the recurrent cyst was consistent with mBOT. Two of the 3 patients initially underwent cystectomy, and all ultimately had a unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Subsequent surveillance over 2 to 4 years found no evidence of disease recurrence.

CONCLUSION

mBOTs are rare in the pediatric and adolescent population and could arise from benign ovarian tumors.

Second fertility preservation surgery for early relapse of seromucinous borderline ovarian tumors

•The initial diagnosis was endometriosis; however, the postoperative diagnosis was a seromucinous borderline ovarian tumor.•Women of reproductive age experienced an early relapse of seromucinous borderline ovarian tumor after surgery.•Transvaginal ultrasound was useful for early diagnosis of relapse.•A second fertility preservation surgery was performed, and fertility treatment without relapse was ongoing.

Borderline epithelial ovarian tumors: what the radiologist should know

Ovarian borderline tumors are neoplasms of epithelial origin that are typically present in young patients and tend to have a less aggressive clinical course than malignant tumors. Accurate diagnosis and staging of borderline tumors has important prognostic and management implications (like fertility-sparing procedures) for women of child-bearing age. This article will review the sonographic, CT, and MRI features of borderline epithelial ovarian tumors with histopathologic correlation. Borderline tumors have less soft tissue and thinner walls/septations than malignant tumors. Serous borderline tumors more commonly have papillary projections, which can simulate the appearance of a sea anemone. Mucinous borderline tumors often are larger, multi-cystic, and more commonly unilateral. The borderline mucinous tumors may also present with pseudomyxoma peritonei, which can make it difficult to distinguish from malignant mucinous carcinoma. Ultrasound is usually the first-line modality for imaging these tumors with MRI reserved for further characterizing indeterminate cases. CT is best used to stage tumors for both locoregional and distant metastatic disease. Overall, however, the imaging features overlap with both benign and malignant ovarian tumors. Despite this, it is important for the radiologist to be familiar with the imaging appearances of borderline tumors because they can present in younger patients and may benefit from different clinical/surgical management.

Salpingo-oophorectomy versus cystectomy in patients with borderline ovarian tumors: a systemic review and meta-analysis on postoperative recurrence and fertility

BACKGROUND

To compare the postoperative recurrence and fertility in patients with borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) who underwent different surgical procedures: salpingo-oophorectomy versus cystectomy.

METHODS

Potentially relevant literature from inception to Nov. 06, 2020, were retrieved in databases including Cochrane Library, EMBASE (Ovid), and MEDLINE (Pubmed). We applied the keywords "fertility-sparing surgery," or "conservative surgery," or "cystectomy," or "salpingo-oophorectomy," or "oophorectomy," or "adnexectomy," or "borderline ovarian tumor" for literate searching. Systemic reviews and meta-analyses were performed on the postoperative recurrence rates and pregnancy rates between patients receiving the two different surgical methods. Begger's methods, Egger's methods, and funnel plot were used to evaluate the publication bias.

RESULT

Among the sixteen eligible studies, the risk of recurrence was evaluated in all studies, and eight studies assessed the postoperative pregnancy rates in the BOT patients. A total of 1839 cases with borderline ovarian tumors were included, in which 697 patients (37.9%) received unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and 1142 patients (62.1%) underwent unilateral/bilateral cystectomy. Meta-analyses showed that BOT patients with unilateral/bilateral cystectomy had significantly higher recurrence risk (OR=2.02, 95% CI: 1.59-2.57) compared with those receiving unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Pooled analysis of four studies further confirmed the higher risk of recurrence in patients with cystectomy (HR=2.00, 95% CI: 1.11-3.58). In addition, no significant difference in postoperative pregnancy rate was found between patients with the two different surgical procedures (OR=0.92, 95% CI: 0.60-1.42).

CONCLUSION

Compared with the unilateral/bilateral cystectomy, the unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy significantly reduces the risk of postoperative recurrence in patients with BOT, and it does not reduce the pregnancy of patients after surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42021238177.

Oncologic and reproductive outcomes of borderline ovarian tumors in Indian population

•

In BOT Fertility sparing surgery is a safe procedure in early stage disease and should be performed in a young patient.

•

Recurrences are more common in the cystectomy group as compared to oophorectomy (33% vs 6.2%; p = 0.03).

•

Overall and Recurrence free survival is favourable and recurrences are always salvaged by surgery.

•

Spontaneous conception and live birth rates after fertility sparing surgery in patients with BOT are modest (50%).

Borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) is characterized by atypical epithelial proliferation without stromal invasion and majority are diagnosed at early stages and in women of reproductive age group. A retrospective review of medical records of patients diagnosed with BOT and on regular follow up at All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi, during a five-year study period from March 2014 to March 2019 was performed. Surgical treatment was classified as radical, fertility sparing surgery (FSS) or cystectomy. Surgical staging was defined as complete, partial or unstaged. Median age of seventy-five women was 32 years. Follow up period ranged from 22 to 61 months (median 36 m). Radical surgery was done in 34 (45.3%), FSS in 32 (42.6%) and cystectomy in 9 (12.0%) women. Complete surgical staging was performed in 22 (29.3%), partial staging in 23 (30.6%) and 30 (40%) were unstaged. During the follow up period, 98.7% patients were alive and 90.7% were free of recurrence. Median time to recurrence was 35 months. Recurrence rate was 33.3% in cystectomy vs 6.2% in oophorectomy (p = 0.03). All seven recurrences were in unstaged (six) or partially staged patient (one). Six recurrences in ovary were salvaged by surgery and recurrent disease was of borderline histology. Spontaneous conception and live birth rate was 42.1%. FSS is a safe procedure and should be considered in a young patient with early stage disease and desirous of future fertility. Spontaneous conception and live birth rates after fertility sparing surgery in patients with BOT are modest.

Fertility-Sparing Treatment for Early-Stage Cervical, Ovarian, and Endometrial Malignancies

Approximately 20% of gynecologic malignancies are diagnosed in reproductive-aged women, and standard-of-care surgical treatment often precludes future fertility. In early-stage disease, shared decision making about fertility-sparing medical and surgical approaches may give well-selected patients the opportunity to pursue their family-building goals without compromising long-term survival. Although future fertility is an important consideration for young women with cancer, rates of fertility-sparing procedures remain low. Moreover, because data on pregnancy rates and outcomes after fertility-sparing treatments are limited, it is challenging to counsel patients on realistic expectations. This review examines the critical oncologic outcomes of fertility-sparing approaches in early-stage gynecologic malignancies and highlights pregnancy outcomes in this population.

Unilateral cystectomy and serous histology are associated with relapse in borderline ovarian tumor patients with fertility-sparing surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Surgical procedures, histological subtypes, and surgical approaches are involved in the recurrence of borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs), but whether those three factors affect relapse remains controversial. This study aimed to explore the effects of surgical procedures, histological subtypes, and surgical approaches on the relapse and pregnancy rates of BOT after fertility-preserving surgery (FPS) according to the patients' characteristics.

METHODS

A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library was conducted from their inception to November 2018. Studies that investigated the impact of surgical procedures, histological subtypes, and surgical approaches on the relapse and pregnancy rates in patients with BOT after FPS were eligible. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the random-effects model.

RESULTS

Thirty-five studies involving a total of 2921 patients with BOT after FPS were included. The pooled ORs indicated that the risk of relapse was significantly increased in patients who underwent unilateral cystectomy or with serous BOT. There was no significant difference between laparoscopy and laparotomy on the risk of relapse. Surgical procedures, histological subtypes, and surgical approaches did not influence pregnancy rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who underwent unilateral cystectomy or with serous BOT presented an excess risk of relapse after FPS, but the surgical approach did not affect the risk of relapse. The pregnancy rate is not affected by surgical procedures, histological subtypes, and surgical approaches.

What women want: Fertility sparing surgery in Borderline ovarian tumours patients and pregnancy outcome

OBJECTIVE

Borderline ovarian tumours (BOTs) are characterized by the presence of cellular proliferation and nuclear atypia without stromal invasion. Compared to malignant ovarian tumours, BOTs have better prognoses. The most important treatment of BOT is surgery. Considering the good prognosis of BOT, fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) can be considered for young women who desire to preserve fertility. Our study evaluated the pregnancy rate in patients with childbearing desire, the efficacy and risk of recurrence of women affected by BOTs who have undergone FSS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients characteristics have been restrospectively retrieved for diagnosis made from June 2000 to December 2017 from San Raffaele Hospital and Policlinico Cagliari. Patients underwent FSS for BOT were interviewed about child wishing and pregnancy outcomes.

RESULTS

85 patients were recruited for the study. Median age at diagnosis was 33 years. Unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed in 33 patients (38%), unilateral cystectomy in 40 (47%) and 12 underwent both procedures (14%). 40 women (50%) tried to conceive after surgery. The pregnancy rate was 73% and live birth rate was 67%. Childbearing desire and age at diagnosis were significantly associated with the pregnancy rate.

CONCLUSIONS

Conservative surgical treatment seems to be a reasonable therapeutic option for women with BOTs who wish to preserve fertility. Our results suggest that the obstetric outcomes after FSS are promising. Maternal desire and the age of diagnosis are the most important factors affecting PR after surgery. Fertility counselling should be an integral part of the clinical management of women with BOT.

[Borderline Ovarian Tumours: CNGOF Guidelines for Clinical Practice - Therapeutic Management of Early Stages]

OBJECTIVES

To provide guidelines for clinical practice from the French College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (CNGOF), based on the best evidence available, concerning early stage borderline ovarian tumors (BOT).

METHODS

Bibliographical search in French and English languages by consultation of Pubmed, Cochrane, Embase, and international databases.

RESULTS

Considering management of early stage BOT, if surgery is possible without a risk of tumor rupture, the laparoscopic approach is recommended compared to laparotomy (Grade C). In BOT, it is recommended to take all the measures to avoid tumor rupture, including the peroperative decision of laparoconversion (Grade C). In BOT, extraction of the surgical specimen using an endoscopic bag is recommended (Grade C). In case of early stage, uni or bilateral BOT, suspected in preoperative imaging in a postmenopausal patient, bilateral adnexectomy is recommended (Grade B). In cases of bilateral BOT and desire of fertility preservation, a bilateral cystectomy is recommended (Grade B). In case of mucinous BOT and desire of fertility preservation, it is recommended to perform a unilateral adnexectomy (Grade C). In case of endometrioid BOT and desire of fertility preservation, it is not possible to establish a recommendation of treatment choice between cystectomy and unilateral adnexectomy. In case of mucinous BOT at definitive histological analysis in a woman of childbearing age who had an initial cystectomy, surgical revision for unilateral adnexectomy is recommended (Grade C). In the case of serous BOT with definitive histological analysis in a woman of childbearing age who has had an initial cystectomy, it is not recommended to repeat surgery for adnexectomy in the absence of residual suspicious lesion during initial surgery and/or on postoperative imaging (referent ultrasound or pelvic MRI) (Grade C). An omentectomy is recommended for complete initial surgical staging when BOT is diagnosed on extemporaneous analysis or suspected on preoperative radiological elements (Grade B). There is no data in the literature to recommend the type of omentectomy to be performed. If restaging surgery is decided for a presumed early stage BOT, an omentectomy is recommended (Grade B). Multiple peritoneal biopsies are recommended for complete initial surgical staging when BOT is diagnosed on extemporaneous or suspected on preoperative radiological elements (Grade C). In case of restaging surgery for a presumed early stage BOT, exploration of the abdominal cavity should be complete and peritoneal biopsies should be performed on suspicious areas or systematically (Grade C). A primary peritoneal cytology is recommended in order to achieve complete initial surgical staging when BOT is suspected on preoperative radiological elements (Grade C). In case of restaging surgery for presumed early stage BOT, a first peritoneal cytology is recommended (Grade C). For early serous or mucinous BOT, it is not recommended to perform a systematic hysterectomy (Grade C). For early stage endometrioid BOT, and in the absence of a desire to maintain fertility, hysterectomy is recommended for initial surgery or if restaging surgery is indicated (Grade C). For endometrioid-type early stage BOT, if there is a desire for fertility preservation, the uterus may be retained subject to good evaluation of the endometrium by imaging and endometrial sampling (Grade C). In case of surgery (initial or restaging if indicated) for early stage BOT, it is recommended to evaluate the macroscopic appearance of the appendix (Grade B). In case of surgery (initial or restaging if indicated) for early stage BOT, appendectomy is recommended only in case of macroscopically pathological appearance of the appendix (Grade C). Pelvic and lumbar aortic lymphadenectomy is not recommended for initial surgery or restaging surgery for early stage BOT regardless of histologic type (Grade C). In case of BOT diagnosed on definitive histology, the indication of restaging surgery should be discussed in Multidisciplinary Collaborative Meeting. For presumed early stage BOT, it is recommended to use the laparoscopic approach to perform restaging surgery (Grade C). Restaging surgery is recommended for serous BOT with micropapillary appearance and unsatisfactory abdominal cavity inspection during initial surgery (Grade C). Restaging surgery is recommended in case of mucinous BOT if only a cystectomy has been performed or the appendix has not been visualized, then a unilateral adnexectomy will be performed (Grade C). If a restaging surgery is decided in the management of a presumed early stage BOT, the actions to be carried out are as follows: a peritoneal cytology (Grade C), an omentectomy (there is no data in the literature recommending the type of omentectomy to be performed) (Grade B), a complete exploration of the abdominal cavity with peritoneal biopsies on suspect areas or systematically (Grade C), visualization of the appendix± the appendectomy in case of pathological macroscopic appearance (Grade C), unilateral adnexectomy in case of mucinous TFO (Grade C).

Uncommon borderline ovarian tumours: A clinicopathologic study of seventeen patients

Objective

To evaluate uncommon types of borderline ovarian tumors (BOT) and define the clinical, surgical, and pathologic features.

Material and Methods

Seventeen patients who were treated in our hospital between 1990 and 2017 were identified. Patients’ data were collected from the gynecologic oncology clinic electronic database, patients’ files, and pathology reports. Conservative surgery was defined as preservation of the uterus and at least part of one ovary.

Results

The mean age was 47 (range, 22-70) years. Based on histopathologic tumor type, there was mixed tumor in five (29.4%) patients, endometrioid-type in nine (52.9%), seromusinous-type in two (11.8%), and Brenner-type in one (5.9%). Conservative surgery was performed in 4 patients. Two patients with endometrioid BOT had synchronous endometrial pathology, including one (11%) patient with endometrial cancer, one (11%) with endometrial hyperplasia without atypia, and 3 (33%) patients had endometriosis. The median follow-up was 19 (range, 1-137) months. No recurrence was observed during the follow-up period.

Conclusion

In our small volume case series, it could be said that non-serous/non-mucinous BOT has excellent prognosis. However, endometrial pathology should be checked in endometrioid type.

Utero-ovarian preservation and overall survival of young women with early-stage borderline ovarian tumors

PURPOSE

To examine survival of women who had uterine and ovarian preservation during surgical treatment for early-stage borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs).

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program was used to identify women aged < 50 years with stage I BOTs who underwent ovarian conservation at surgical treatment between 1988 and 2003. Survival outcomes were examined based on the use of concurrent hysterectomy at surgery.

RESULTS

Among 6379 cases of BOT, there were 1065 women who had utero-ovarian preservation at surgery, and there were 52 women who had hysterectomy with ovarian preservation alone. Women who had uterine preservation were more likely to be single and diagnosed in recent years (both, P < 0.05). On univariable analysis, women who had utero-ovarian preservation had cause-specific survival similar to those who had ovarian preservation alone without uterine preservation (10-year rates: 99.2% versus 98.1%, P = 0.42); however, overall survival was higher in the utero-ovarian preservation group compared to the hysterectomy group (95.8% versus 87.6%, P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, utero-ovarian preservation remained an independent prognostic factor for improved overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio 0.35, 95% confidence interval 0.15-0.79, P = 0.012). Cardiovascular disease mortality was lower in the utero-ovarian preservation group compared to the hysterectomy group, but it did not reach statistical significance (20-year cumulative rate, 0.8% versus 3.0%, P = 0.29).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that utero-ovarian preservation for young women with early-stage BOTs may be associated with improved overall survival compared to ovarian preservation alone without affecting BOT-related survival outcome.

Age-dependent difference in impact of fertility preserving surgery on disease-specific survival in women with stage I borderline ovarian tumors

Background

This study was to determine age-specific impact of fertility preserving surgery on disease-specific survival in women with stage I borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs). Patients diagnosed during 1988–2000 were selected from The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The age-specific impact of fertility preserving surgery and other risk factors were analyzed in patients with stage I BOTs using Cox proportion hazard regression models. Data from our hospital were collected during 1996–2017 to determine the prevalence of patients who had undergone fertility preserving surgery.

Results

Of a total 6295 patients in the SEER database, this study selected 2946 patients with stage T1 BOTs who underwent fertility preserving or radical surgery. Their median age at diagnosis was 45.0 years and the median follow-up time was 200 months. Fertility preserving surgery was performed in 1000/1751 (57.1%) patients < 50 years and in 1,81/1195 (15.1%) patients ≥50 years. Fertility preserving surgery was significantly associated with worse disease-specific survival only in patients ≥50 years. Increased age, stage T1c and mucinous histology were risk factors for overall patients or patients ≥50 years, but not for < 50 years. Data from our hospital showed that fertility preserving surgery was performed in 53.9 and 12.3%patients < 50 and ≥ 50 years with stage I disease, respectively.

Conclusion

Fertility preserving surgery is safe for women < 50 years with early staged BOTs, but it may decrease disease-specific survival in patients ≥50 years. Conservative surgery is performed at a relatively high rate in patients ≥50 years.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13048-018-0423-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Prognostic Factors for Recurrence After Fertility-Preserving Surgery in Patients With Borderline Ovarian Tumors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to find the unfavorable prognostic factors for recurrence after fertility-preserving surgery (FPS) in patients with borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs).

METHODS

To perform a meta-analysis to compare the recurrence rates of BOT patients after FPS according to different prognostic factors, we searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane for observational studies. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with a fixed-effects model.

RESULTS

We analyzed 32 studies that included 2691 BOT patients who underwent FPS, 383 patients of whom had a relapse in the follow-up. In meta-analysis, risks associated with recurrence in patients with unilateral cystectomy (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.86-3.33) or serous borderline ovarian tumors (OR, 3.15; 95% CI, 1.97-5.02) were significantly increased, and there was no significantly increased OR for patients with laparoscopy compared with those with laparotomy (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.57-1.60).

CONCLUSIONS

Unilateral cystectomy (19.4%) and serous BOTs (19.2%) are significantly associated with higher recurrence rates, and no negative impact of laparoscopy on recurrence can be demonstrated when compared with laparotomy in the meta-analysis.

The safety of fertility and ipsilateral ovary procedures for borderline ovarian tumors

Objective

To explore the optimal treatment options for women with borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs).

Materials and Methods

The medical records of consecutive patients with BOTs in two academic institutions were retrospectively collected. The pertinent data, including clinicopathological characteristics and, treatment and prognostic information were evaluated.

Results

A total of 281 cases of BOTs were included in this analysis. For the entire series, the 5- year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 91.8% and 98.5%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, reservation of the ipsilateral ovary (HR: 0.104 [95% CI, 0.036–0.304], p = 0.000) and FIGO stage II–III (HR: 6.811 [95% CI, 2.700–17.181], p = 0.000) were the independent risk factors for recurrence. Ovarian surface involvement (HR: 64.996 [95% CI, 4.054–1041.941], p = 0.003) was the only independent prognostic factor for OS. Lymphadenectomy and adjunct chemotherapy had no significant impact on patients’ recurrence and survival (recurrence: p = 0.332 and 0.290, respectively, survival: p = 0.896 and 0.216, respectively).

Conclusions

Fertility-sparing surgery with healthy ovarian preservation seems safe and feasible for young women who prefer fertility-sparing treatment. Ovarian cystectomy to conserve the affected ovary/ovaries without ovarian surface involvement may be cautiously performed under fully informed consent for young women with bilateral BOTs who strongly prefer fertility-sparing treatment and have no evidence of infertility. However, long-term follow-up is necessary due to the relapse susceptibility of the ovary.

Practical recommendations for fertility preservation in women by the FertiPROTEKT network. Part I: Indications for fertility preservation

Purpose

Most guidelines about fertility preservation are predominantly focused on scientific evidence, but are less practically orientated. Therefore, practically oriented recommendations are needed to support the clinician in daily practice.

Methods

A selective literature search was performed based on the clinical and scientific experience of the authors, focussing on the most relevant diseases and gynaecological cancers. This article (Part I) provides information on topics that are essential for the fertility preservation indication, such as disease prognosis, disease therapy and its associated risks to fertility, recommending disease-specific fertility preservation measures. Part II specifically focusses on fertility preservation techniques.

Results

In breast cancer patients, fertility preservation such as ovarian tissue and oocyte cryopreservation is especially recommended in low-stage cancer and in women < 35 years of age. In Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the indication is mainly based on the chemotherapy regime as some therapies have very low, others very high gonadotoxicity. In borderline ovarian tumours, preservation of fertility usually is achieved through fertility sparing surgery, ovarian stimulation may also be considered. In cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, rheumatic diseases and other malignancies such as Ewing sarcoma, colorectal carcinoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukaemia etc., several other factors must be considered to enable an individual, stage-dependent decision.

Conclusion

The decision for or against fertility preservation depends on the prognosis, the risks to fertility and individual factors such as prospective family planning.

Pregnancy Outcomes after Conservative Surgery for Early-Stage Ovarian Neoplasms

Objective:

This retrospective, single institute study aimed to evaluate pregnancy and oncologic outcomes in reproductive-age Thai women with early-stage ovarian neoplasms undergoing conservative surgical treatment.

Methods:

Medical records of 84 women of reproductive age (15-45 years) with histologically confirmed early-stage (IA-IIC) borderline ovarian tumors or cancers who had undergone conservative surgery between January 2003 and December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results:

The mean age of patients at diagnosis was 28.0 years (SD 7.2). Histologically, 30 (35.7%) had borderline ovarian tumors, 28 (33.3%) epithelial cancers, 22 (26.2%) malignant germ cell tumors, and 4 (4.8%) sex cord stromal tumors. Thirty-five women (41.7%) had complete surgical staging performed, whereas 49 (58.3%) underwent an incomplete staging procedure. Thirty-four patients (40.5%) received postoperative chemotherapy. Among 29 patients subsequently attempting pregnancy, 15 conceived successfully (51.7%). Pregnancy outcomes were one spontaneous abortion and 14 viable births. There were no serious adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes among women with documented live births and no reported fetal abnormalities. Pregnancy rates were not impacted by surgical staging (53.8% vs 50.0%, p=0.837) or adjuvant chemotherapy (55.6% vs 50.0%, p=0.782). The 5-year disease-free survival was 91.0% and pregnancy after conservative surgery did not affect progression-free survival (p=0.194).

Conclusion:

Conservative surgery with or without appropriate adjuvant chemotherapy can be offered to young women with early-stage ovarian neoplasms who wish to preserve their fertility potential.

Oncofertility for women with gynecologic malignancies

The emerging field of oncofertility addresses fertility and the reproductive health needs for cancer patients, a key topic in cancer survivorship. Given that the standard treatment for gynecologic malignancies involves removal of reproductive organs, pelvic radiation, or chemotherapy, the effect of such treatment on fertility and options for fertility preservation are even more relevant than for other malignancies. In young women with new diagnoses of cervical, endometrial, or ovarian cancers, viable strategies for fertility preservation without compromising oncological outcome exist and should be considered. We present here a comprehensive review of the literature as it pertains to gynecologic malignancies on 1) the effects of radiation and chemotherapy on fertility, 2) fertility-sparing surgeries and the role of assisted reproductive technology, and 3) fertility preservation in adolescent girls and women with BRCA germline mutations.

Fertility Preservation Is Safe for Serous Borderline Ovarian Tumors

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine the overall survival (OS) and progression-free interval and the influence of fertility-preserving surgery (FPS) versus radical surgery (RS) in patients with serous borderline ovarian tumor (BOT).

METHODS

Clinical parameters of patients with serous BOT treated between 1993 and 2013 in one institution were retrospectively investigated. All tumors were examined by one pathologist with experience in gynecological pathology.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-two patients with serous BOT (inclusive 16 microinvasive) were analyzed (45% were ≤40 years), with a median follow-up of 6 years. Thirty-two percent (42/132) of the patients received FPS; 14% (18/132) relapsed (invasive or borderline). The 5-year progression-free survival was 89%. The risk of recurrence was higher in patients 40 years or younger (P = 0.019), after FPS (P = 0.002), in patients with a higher International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (P = 0.016), for bilateral BOT (P = 0.0132), and for the micropapillary variant (P = 0.067). The OS at 5 years was 97%. There was no statistically significant difference in OS between FPS and RS [all (6 of 90) patients, except for 1, with RS died]. One patient died of relapsed BOT. Among the recurrences, low-grade invasive carcinoma was diagnosed in 4 patients. Three of these 4 patients were originally operated radically, 2 had a micropapillary variant FIGO stage III, and 1 had a papillary pattern FIGO stage II with microinvasion; all 3 had noninvasive implants and are alive. One patient with a micropapillary variant, FIGO stage IIIC with microinvasion and invasive implants, received FPS and died of disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of recurrence is higher after FPS compared with RS; however, no influence on OS was observed. This was because most of the patients relapsed as BOT. Fertility preservation is justified in young patients with serous borderline tumors.

Staging for low malignant potential ovarian tumors: a global perspective

OBJECTIVE

We describe current evidence for staging low malignant potential ovarian tumors and their conformity to current consensus guidelines and practice from an international perspective.

DATA SOURCES

A search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases was conducted for articles published between January 1990 and April 2015.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Studies on low malignant potential ovarian tumors that evaluated the prognostic value of disease stage, staging vs no staging, complete vs incomplete staging, or discrete components of staging were eligible. Studies that described only crude survival rates were excluded.

STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS

Eligible studies were categorized according to their outcome (disease stage, staging procedure, or discrete staging elements). Data were abstracted using a standard form. Inconsistencies on data abstraction were resolved by consensus among the authors. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS

Of 1116 studies, 702 were excluded for irrelevance and 364 for not meeting inclusion criteria. Nine studies were excluded for describing crude survival rates without a comparative conclusion. We found that studies supporting the value of defining disease stage or staging procedures (mostly conducted in northern Europe) included more patients than studies that did not find disease stage or staging useful (predominantly from North America, 4072 vs 3951). Disease stage correlated with survival in 13 of 25 studies, whereas none of the studies that evaluated the value of staging found it beneficial (9 studies, 1979 patients). Studies that evaluated isolated components of staging found no benefit to these procedures. Regional guidelines and consensus reviews drew conclusions based on a limited number of studies that generally originated from the same region.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the correlation of stage with survival was mixed, performing staging procedures for low malignant potential ovarian tumors is not supported by the best available evidence. Guidelines in support of staging based their recommendations on a few regional studies and conflict with better-quality data that do not support staging procedures. An international consensus statement is needed to standardize the surgical management of low malignant potential ovarian tumors.

Fertility preservation in women with cervical, endometrial or ovarian cancers

Background

Although cancer in general affects an aged population, a significant number of women develop cancer at childbearing age. Long-term survival rates after gynecological cancer, especially in young patients are increasing and all quality-of-life aspects, including preservation of fertility have become of major relevance.

Outcomes

Surgical techniques aimed at sparing reproductive organs and preserving fertility have been developed for women presenting with gynecological cancer found at early stages. Indications for fertility-sparing surgery are in general restricted to women presenting with a well-differentiated low-grade tumor in its early stages or with low malignant potential. Up to now, use of fertility-sparing techniques in well-selected patients has not been shown to affect overall survival negatively and fertility outcomes reported have been favorable. Still larger amounts of data and longer follow-up periods are needed. Several current fertility-sparing cancer treatments may result in sub-fertility and in those cases assisted reproductive techniques are indicated. Overall quality of life has been satisfactory in cancer patients after fertility-sparing surgery.

Conclusions

Fertility-sparing surgery is a viable tool to enable gynecological cancer patients of young age to fulfill their family building without impairment of oncological outcome. Cancer patients of reproductive age should undergo fertility counseling to analyze this sensitive subject. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of fertility-sparing treatment and combined adjuvant therapy in higher-grade cancers.

Mucinous borderline ovarian tumors: Analysis of 75 patients from a single center

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the clinicopathologic features, recurrence and survival rates, reproductive history, and treatment of patients with mucinous borderline ovarian tumors (mBOTs).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients with a diagnosis of mBOT were evaluated retrospectively. Patients with borderline ovarian tumors other than mucinous type and concomitant invasive cancer were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 75 patients were identified. Median age was 38 years. The most common symptom was pain (42.7%). Median CA-125 level was 23.5 IU/mL (range, 1-809 IU/mL). Median tumor size was 200 mm (range, 40-400 mm), and 6.7% of mBOTs were bilateral. Thirty-six (48%) patients underwent staging surgery. Two patients (5.9%) had nodal involvement. One patient received platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy. One (1.3%) patient had recurrence. None of the patients died because of the ovarian tumor. A total of 43 patients had conservative surgery.

CONCLUSION

Prognosis of mBOTs is excellent, and fertility-sparing surgery should be considered in the reproductive age group. Furthermore, the necessity of staging surgery is controversial.

Differentiation between borderline and benign ovarian tumors: combined analysis of MRI with tumor markers for large cystic masses (≥5 cm)

BACKGROUND

There is overlap in imaging features between borderline and benign ovarian tumors.

PURPOSE

To analyze diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with tumor markers for differentiating borderline from benign ovarian tumor.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Ninety-nine patient with MRI and surgically confirmed ovarian tumors 5 cm or larger (borderline, n = 37; benign, n = 62) were included. On MRI, tumor size, septal number (0; 1-4; 5 or more), and presence of solid portion such as papillary projection or septal thickening 0.5 cm or larger were investigated. Serum tumor markers (carbohydrate antigen 125 [CA 125] and CA 19-9) were recorded. Multivariate analysis was conducted for assessing whether combined MRI with tumor markers could differentiate borderline from benign tumor. The diagnostic performance was also analyzed.

RESULTS

Incidence of solid portion was 67.6% (25/37) in borderline and 3.2% (2/62) in benign tumors (P < 0.05). In all patients, without combined analysis of MRI with tumor markers, multivariate analysis revealed solid portion (P < 0.001) and CA 125 (P = 0.039) were significant for predicting borderline tumors. When combined analysis of MRI with CA 125 ((i) the presence of solid portion or (ii) CA 125 > 44.1 U/mL with septal number ≥5 for borderline tumor) is incorporated to multivariate analysis, it was only significant (P = 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of combined analysis of MRI with CA 125 were 89.1%, 91.9%, 86.8%, 93.4, and 90.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Combined analysis of MRI with CA 125 may allow better differentiation between borderline and benign ovarian tumor compared with MRI alone.

Clinicopathological aspects of patients with recurrence of borderline ovarian tumors

OBJECTIVE

Despite the good prognosis of borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs), a few BOT patients experience the relapse of disease, either borderline or malignant. However, the risk of recurrence of BOTs is somewhat controversial. We intended to find out the specific characteristics and prognosis of the recurrence of BOTs.

METHODS

Between 1995 and 2012, 130 women were diagnosed with BOTs at a single institution. Eleven patients diagnosed and treated for the recurrence of BOTs including seven cancerous and four borderline relapses were included for the analysis in this retrospective study. Clinicopathological characteristics and surgical procedures as well as follow-up data with overall survival were assessed. Statistical analyses was performed using the χ(2) test, t-test and log-rank test with Cox regression.

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty patients with mean follow-up of 65.8 months were evaluated, of whom half were below 40 years old at their first diagnosis of BOTs. Among 11 recurrent cases (8.5%), 7 cancerous transformations (5.4%) and 4 borderline recurrences (3.1%) were detected with median time of 6 and 71 months after the primary surgery, respectively. Nine out of 11 recurrences were happened at their equal or below 40-years-old age at the primary diagnosis (P=0.027). Also, all 7 cancerous relapses arose from premenopausal women of median age of 35 years old. Twenty (15%) patients had laparoscopic surgery and they were all treated conservatively. Among those 20, 5 were suffered from relapse of BOTs and laparoscopic approach was proved to be a significant risk factor for disease relapse in our study (P=0.013). Although laparoscopic surgery was revealed had meaningful influence on disease free survival (P=0.024), it was not significant on overall survival (P=0.226).

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic conservative surgery for BOTs can be accepted under close follow-ups. And younger patients should be followed for long period to evaluate recurrence.

Conservative surgery in ovarian borderline tumours: a meta-analysis with emphasis on recurrence risk

BACKGROUND

Recent reports have stirred the debate regarding the optimal conservative treatment for both serous and mucinous borderline ovarian tumour (BOT). The aim of this study is to examine the optimal oncological approach of conservative surgery in unilateral BOT (cystectomy (C) versus unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (USO)) and in bilateral BOT (bilateral C (BC) versus USO+contralateral C (CC)), as well as fertility outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The PubMed database and Cochrane Library were searched using the search terms (((Borderline) OR (low malignant potential)) AND (ovarian)) AND ((tumour) OR (cancer)) AND (((fertility sparing) OR (conservative)) AND surgery).

RESULTS

We analysed 39 studies that included 5105 women (2624 patients with serous-, 2120 patients with mucinous- and the remaining with other types of BOT), 2752 of which underwent conservative surgery (817 underwent C, 89 BC, 1686 USO and 118 USO+CC). Eight studies included only stage I patients, in 14 studies more than 90% of patients were stage I and five studies included only late-stage patients. Seven studies included only patients with serous borderline ovarian tumour (sBOT) and two only mucinous borderline ovarian tumour (mBOT). A total of 296 patients with non-invasive-, 76 patients with invasive- and 50 patients with unspecified implants were pooled. Of the patients undergoing C, BC, USO and USO+CC the pooled recurrence estimates were respectively 25.3%, 25.6%, 12.5% and 26.1%. In meta-analysis, USO was significantly favored over C with an OR for recurrence reduction=2200, 95% CI=0.793-2.841 and p<0.0001. The pooled recurrence estimate as invasive ovarian cancer was 15.4% and the pooled 95% CI was 0.120-0.196. The cumulative pregnancy rate was 55.7% with 45.4% for USO and 40.3.0% for C.

CONCLUSION

Cystectomy in unilateral serous BOT is significantly associated with a higher recurrence rate, albeit no impact on survival can be demonstrated. Whether this is related to the duration of follow-up, remains to be proven. Nonetheless, recent data seem to suggest that USO is advisable in the case of mucinous BOT. On the contrary, a more conservative approach (BC) should be definitively favored in bilateral BOT, which is almost always serous, because no significant difference is seen in terms of recurrence rate when compared to USO+CC.

Pelvic MRI as the "gold standard" in the subsequent evaluation of ultrasound-indeterminate adnexal lesions: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Incidentally discovered adnexal masses are common, posing a challenging diagnostic problem because imaging features of benign and malignant overlap. Thus, once an adnexal lesion has been detected, the primary goal of further imaging is accurate tissue characterization resulting in surgery only for lesions that are indeterminate or frankly malignant. This study aims to conduct a systematic review, following the PRISMA guidelines, and critically appraise pelvic MR Imaging as the preferred advanced second imaging test, as regards detection of ovarian cancer and assessment of indeterminate adnexal masses, with respect to pre-operatively improving the assignment of these patients to the appropriate level of care.

METHODS

A comprehensive computerized systematic literature search of English language studies was performed (from 2002 to 2012) of PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Evidence Based Medicine Reviews (Cochrane Database and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), and Google Scholar. Relevant article reference lists were hand searched.

RESULTS

Computerized database search revealed 37 citations of relevance, 10 of which fulfilled the inclusion/exclusion criteria. From the aforementioned, 8 articles were acquired (2 authors were contacted but did not respond) as well as assessed with AHRQ, QUADAS, and STARD evaluation tools. Finally, 6 papers (5 prospective and 1 retrospective) were included in the systematic review.

CONCLUSIONS

MRI with intravenous (IV) contrast administration provides the highest post-test probability of ovarian cancer detection. However, the preponderant contribution of MRI in adnexal mass evaluation is its specificity because it provides confident diagnosis of many benign adnexal lesions.

Fertility and borderline ovarian tumor: a systematic review of conservative management, risk of recurrence and alternative options

BACKGROUND

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the fertility outcome after borderline ovarian tumor (BOT) management and the results of conservative management, risk of recurrence and alternative options.

METHODS

The search strategy was based on relevant terms concerning BOT using Medline and the Central Cochrane Library. Both early and advanced stages of serous and mucinous BOT were included, but not rare entities such as endometrioid, Brenner or clear-cell BOT because of their low incidence. We considered all articles-case reports, original studies, meta-analyses and reviews-in English and French.

RESULTS

Overall, 230 articles were screened of which 120 were retained for review. Most pregnancies were spontaneous but some data were obtained from studies analyzing the contribution of assisted reproductive technology (ART). However, not all studies differentiated spontaneous pregnancy from those obtained after fertility treatment including ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination and IVF. Conservative management of early stage BOT resulted in a pooled estimate for spontaneous pregnancy rate of 54% with a low risk of lethal recurrence (pooled estimate: 0.5%). In patients with advanced stage BOT, the spontaneous pregnancy rates was lower (34% in the single series reporting pregnancy rate in this context) and the risk of lethal recurrence increased (pooled estimate: 2%).

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review underlines that fertility subsequent to treatment of BOT depends mainly on histology and initial staging to distinguish early from advanced stages. In patients with advanced stage BOT, several alternative options to conservative management are available to allow patients to conceive without compromising their prognosis.

Diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of borderline ovarian tumors

Borderline ovarian tumors represent a heterogeneous group of noninvasive tumors of uncertain malignant potential with characteristic histology. They occur in younger women, are present at an early stage, and have a favorable prognosis, but symptomatic recurrence and death may be found as long as 20 years after therapy in some patients. The molecular changes in borderline ovarian tumors indicate linkage of this disease to type I ovarian tumors (low-grade ovarian carcinomas). The pathological stage of disease and subclassification of extraovarian disease into invasive and noninvasive implants, together with the presence of postoperative macroscopic residual disease, appear to be the major predictor of recurrence and survival. However, it should be emphasized that the most important negative prognostic factor for recurrence is just the use of conservative surgery, but without any impact on patient survival because most recurrent diseases are of the borderline type-easily curable and with an excellent prognosis. Borderline tumors are difficult masses to correctly preoperatively diagnose using imaging methods because their macroscopic features may overlap with invasive and benign ovarian tumors. Over the past several decades, surgical therapy has shifted from a radical approach to more conservative treatment; however, oncologic safety must always be balanced. Follow-up is essential using routine ultrasound imaging, with special attention paid to the remaining ovary in conservatively treated patients. Current literature on this topic leads to a number of controversies that will be discussed thoroughly in this article, with the aim to provide recommendations for the clinical management of these patients.

High preoperative blood levels of HE4 predicts poor prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical value of preoperative blood levels of HE4 as a predictor of overall survival in patients with ovarian cancer and to validate previous data of HE4 and the ROMA algorithm including HE4 and CA125 in discriminating benign and malignant ovarian tumors.

Experimental design

The preoperative plasma levels of HE4 and CA125 were analyzed with ELISA in 312 patients with adnexal lesions. Tumors were classified as benign (n= 206), borderline (i.e. low malignant potential tumors) (n= 25), and well (n= 14), moderately (n= 15), and poorly (n= 51) differentiated malignant.

Results

In univariate Cox regression analyses high levels (dichotomized at the median) of HE4, CA125, increased age (continuous variable), advanced-stage of disease 2–4, histological grade 3 and non-optimal tumor debulking at primary surgery were all significantly associated with shorter overall survival. A multivariate Cox regression model including pre-operative available covariates HE4 and CA125 both dichotomized at median in addition to age as continuous variable showed that high levels of HE4 was an independent prognostic marker for worse prognosis HR 2.02 (95% CI 1.1-3.8). In postmenopausal women the ROMA algorithm gave the highest AUC of 0.94 (95% CI, 0.90-0.97) which was higher than the separate markers HE4 AUC 0.91 (95% CI 0.86-0.95) and CA125 AUC 0.91(95% CI 0.87-0.96).

Conclusions

High concentration of plasma HE4 is an independent preoperative marker of poor prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer. The algorithm ROMA discriminates in postmenopausal women between malignant and benign tumors with an AUC of 0.94.

Prognostic value of elevated preoperative serum CA125 in ovarian tumors of low malignant potential: a multinational collaborative study (ANZGOG0801)

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies on prognostic factors in ovarian tumors of low malignant potential (LMP) were too small for robust conclusions. We examined the prognostic impact of preoperative serum CA125 ≥ 50 U/ml levels in patients diagnosed with ovarian LMP tumors in a large multinational cohort.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 940 patients with ovarian LMP tumors diagnosed between 1985 and 2008 at six gynecologic cancer centers. Patients either had radical treatment (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy) or conservative, fertility-sparing treatment. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine independent prognostic factors for disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Based on receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), a preoperative serum CA125 level ≥ 50 U/ml was considered "elevated".

RESULTS

CA125 was more often elevated in serous than in mucinous tumors and in advanced FIGO stages (2 to 4) compared to stage 1. DFS at 5 years was 89% and 95% in patients with elevated and normal CA125 levels (p<0.05). Similarly, the 5-year OS was 90% among patients with elevated CA125 compared to 95% among patients with normal levels (p<0.05). For both DFS and OS elevated CA125 levels and advanced stages of the disease were independent prognostic factors. Analysis of subgroups revealed that CA125 was only prognostic in serous LMP tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

In the context of serous ovarian LMP tumors, elevated preoperative serum CA125 represents a biomarker independently associated with impaired disease-free and overall survival. CA125 is available in most centers and could inform surgeons about the risk of treatment failure.

Evaluation of ovarian cancer biomarkers HE4 and CA-125 in women presenting with a suspicious cystic ovarian mass

Objective

Women presenting with a large or complex ovarian cyst are referred to extensive surgical staging to ensure the correct diagnosis and treatment of a possible epithelial ovarian cancer. We hypothesized that measurement of the biomarkers HE4 and CA-125 preoperatively would improve the assignment of these patients to the correct level of care.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with a cystic ovarian mass and scheduled for an operation at our center of excellence for ovarian cancer surgery from 2001 to 2010 were prospectively included (n=394) and plasma was collected consecutively. Cut-off for HE4 was calculated at 75% specificity (85 pM and 71.8 pM for post and premenopausal women). For CA-125, 35 U/mL cut-off was used. The study population included women with malignant (n=114), borderline (n=45), and benign (n=215) ovarian tumors.

Results

Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) in the benign versus malignant cohorts was 86.8% for CA-125 and 84.4% for HE4. Negative predictive value was 91.7% when at least one of the biomarkers was positive, with only early stage epithelial ovarian cancer showing false negative results. Sensitivity at set specificity (75%) was 87% for risk of ovarian malignancy algorithm (ROMA) in the postmenopausal cohort (cut-off point, 26.0%) and 81% in the premenopausal cohort (cut-off point, 17.3%). ROC AUC in the benign versus stage I epithelial ovarian cancer was only 72% for HE4 and 76% for CA-125.

Conclusion

In our study, population HE4 did not outperform CA-125. Based on our data a prospective trial with patients already diagnosed with an ovarian cyst may be conducted.

Radiological staging of ovarian carcinoma

Ovarian cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world, accounting for 4% of all female cancers. An estimated 1 in 71 women in the United States will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime. Accurate staging of ovarian carcinoma is vital in the appropriate management and counseling of patients. The surgical staging proposed by the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology is the most universally used, and International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology encourages the use of imaging techniques to assess prognostic factors, such as resectable disease and lymph node status. Identifying the volume and locations of tumor is valuable in planning percutaneous tissue biopsy, triaging patients to either primary cytoreductive surgery, or primary platinum-based chemotherapy. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography is the modality of choice for the staging of ovarian carcinoma, with magnetic resonance imaging being used as a problem-solving tool. In this article we discuss and illustrate the staging of ovarian carcinoma, with emphasis on the current imaging modalities and optimal image acquisition.

Risk factors for recurrence of ovarian borderline tumors

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to identify clinicopathologic features that are associated with an increased risk of recurrence for borderline ovarian tumors (BOT).

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of all patients treated for BOT at our institution from 1979 to 2008. Progression-free survival (PFS) was defined as the time of diagnosis to time of recurrence/death or last follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the PFS rate and the Wilcoxon-Gehan test was performed to identify prognostic factors.

RESULTS

A total of 266 patients were identified. The median age was 43 years (range, 15-94 years). The majority of patients (68.4%) had FIGO stage I disease and serous histology (73.7%). Only 23 (8.6%) patients developed recurrent disease. The median PFS was 19 years and the median follow-up was 4 years. Abnormal baseline CA-125 (>35 U/ml), advanced stage, age at diagnosis, and invasive implants were associated with decreased PFS. Of the 196 patients with serous BOT, those with a micropapillary pattern had a 3-year PFS of 75.9% (95%CI, 55.6-87.8) compared with 94.3% (95% CI, 88.4-97.3) for patients without micropapillary pattern (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Age at diagnosis, an elevated preoperative CA-125, invasive implants, and micropapillary histology were clinical factors associated with increased risk of recurrence in women with BOT. Including these clinicopathologic features will likely identify patients at higher risk for recurrence, for whom development of new treatment strategies would be appropriate.

Clinical management of borderline ovarian tumors

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) are epithelial tumors of the ovaries characterized by cellular proliferation and nuclear atypia but without an infiltrative growth pattern. As they frequently affect younger patients the clinical management is complicated by considerations such as preserving fertility and reducing postoperative morbidity. Over the past several decades surgical therapy has shifted from a radical approach to more conservative treatment. There are various modes of surgery applied to the patients. All these developments have to be considered from an oncologic standpoint as BOTs represent a potentially malignant disease. Oncologic safety, as well as patients' desires and expectations, have to be balanced to reach the most appropriate treatment for BOTs. For this reason current literature will be discussed in this review to give a thorough overview of this topic and to develop recommendations for the surgical management of these patients. Open questions will be identified to elaborate the need for future surveys and research.

Pediatric borderline ovarian tumors: a retrospective analysis

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) are uncommon in the pediatric population, and there have been limited studies that have included a small number of patients. In present study, we evaluated the clinical outcomes and the rates of recurrence of pediatric BOTs with larger sample size than those in previous studies.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed on 29 patients who were treated for histopathologically confirmed BOTs at our institution between January 1997 and December 2009.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients (median age, 18 years) had a large-sized tumor (median, 19.8 cm). Abdominal pain was the most common symptom, seen in 82.8% of the patients, followed by abdominal distension. The permanent section histology revealed 25 mucinous (86.2%) and 4 serous type tumors (13.8%). There was considerable discordance between the permanent and frozen sections (rate of concordance, 55.1%). Disease stage was IA in 26 patients (89.7%) and stage IC in the other 3 patients (10.3%). All patients underwent fertility-preserving surgery. Overall, 4 patients (13.8%) experienced a clinically suspicious recurrence requiring surgery. In 2 cases, the suspected recurrences were found to be other benign ovarian tumors. In one case that was initially treated with left ovarian cystectomy for a mucinous BOT, subsequent left salpingo-oophorectomy confirmed recurrence of a mucinous BOT at 16-month follow-up. The last case was a newly developed primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma with no evidence of recurrence of a previous mucinous BOT at 26-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that BOTs in pediatric populations can be successfully treated conservatively to preserve fertility with no apparent increased risk of morbidity or mortality compared with those of more radical surgical options.

Prognostic factors of a large retrospective series of mucinous borderline tumors of the ovary (excluding peritoneal pseudomyxoma)

BACKGROUND

To determine the prognosis and prognostic factors in a large series of mucinous borderline tumors of the ovary (MBOT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of patients with MBOT treated or referred to our institution. Three inclusion criteria were defined: (1) centralized histological review by our expert pathologist, (2) exclusion of peritoneal pseudomyxoma and any synchronous malignant tumor in the abdominal cavity, and (3) available data on the management and outcomes of patients.

RESULTS

From 1997 to 2004, 97 patients fulfilled inclusion criteria (95 stage I and 2 stage II disease). Of these, 9 patients had endocervical-like subtypes, 8 patients had stromal microinvasion, and 24 had intraepithelial carcinoma. Radical and conservative surgeries were performed, respectively, in 28 and 69 patients. After a median follow-up of 48 months, 13 patients had developed 14 recurrences: 7 were borderline and 7 were invasive lesions. The probability of recurrence in the form of carcinoma 5 and 10 years after the diagnosis was, respectively, 9 and 13%. The only prognostic factor for recurrence attaining statistical significance was the use of a cystectomy (compared with other surgeries relative risk [RR] = 5.6; P = 0.003; compared with salpingo-oophorectomy RR = 5.5; P = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONS

In the present series of 97 MBOT, mainly early-stage disease and excluding peritoneal pseudomyxoma, the cumulative risk of recurrence in the form of invasive carcinoma at 10 years was 13%. MBOT do not appear to be such a "safe" disease. The only prognostic factor for recurrence was the use of a cystectomy, suggesting that a salpingo-oophorectomy should be preferred in cases of conservative treatment.