Objective: To asses long term survival and relapse rate of patients (pts) diagnosed with a borderline
tumor of the ovary (BOT). Materials and Methods: All women diagnosed for BOT between 1983–2006 were retrospectively analyzed for survival
and relapse rates. Results: Altogether, 113 pts could be identified, including 19 treated with fertility spearing
surgery (19.2%). 63 patients (55.8%) were diagnosed at early tumor stage (pT1a). Mean
follow-up time was 9.6±6.6 years. 10 relapses occurred during the follow-up period
(10.1%). pts with recurrent disease had a statistically significant worse survival
rate: 5- and 10-year survival (ysr) were 90.0% and 80.0% compared to 98.9% and 94.4%
for those without (p=0.02). Moreover, pts with a CA–125 elevation above normal range
at primary diagnosis had a significantly worse survival rate (p=0.04). 11 pts were
diagnosed with invasive implants. 4 of them had a relapse during follow-up, resulting
in a relapse rate as high as 36.4% compared to 6.8% for those without invasive implants
(p=0.01). 5- and 10-ysr of women treated with fertility sparing surgery were 100%
and thus not worse than those of radically operated patients (5- and 10-ysr 95.1%
and 90.1%). Relapse rates in both groups were comparable with 10.5% and 10.0% (p=0.72).
Conclusion: Our findings underline the good prognosis of BOT in general, but show a worse survival
for pts with recurrent disease or elevated CA–125 at primary diagnosis. The fertility
sparing surgery in women at child bearing age can be discussed as an adequate treatment
option in early stage disease as it does not appear to have an influence on relapse
or survival rates.
Ovarian borderline tumor - fertility sparing operation - tumor marker
