Prognostic Factors in Patients with Ovarian Serous Low Malignant Potential (Borderline) Tumors with Peritoneal Implants

Abstract

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.