Background: The objective of this study was to assess and evaluate the clinical outcome and fertility in patients treated conservatively for epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC).
Methods: Thirty-one patients treated with conservative management EOC were followed up. Optimal surgical staging was performed in 2 cases during the initial surgery and in 27 patients during a reassessment surgery. Six patients underwent hysterectomy during this restaging surgery.
Results: Among 25 patients treated conservatively after the restaging surgery, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging distribution was 19 Stage IA (Grade 1, n = 9; Grade 2, n = 10), 1 Stage IC, 2 Stage II, and 3 patients with initial stage unknown. Seven patients had recurrence (five on the remaining ovary). The disease free survival rate at 5 years for patients with Stage IA Grade 1 and 2 tumors were 89% and 71%, respectively. All patients with Stage IA or higher disease experienced recurrence. Only four pregnancies (three spontaneous and one after in vitro fertilization procedure) were obtained.
Conclusions: Conservative surgery for patients with EOC could be considered in young patients with Stage IA Grade 1 disease adequately staged and desiring to preserve fertility potential. This procedure should not performed in patients with disease staged higher than FIGO Stage IA.
Copyright 2001 American Cancer Society.