[Ovarian low malignant potential tumor: how to preserve fertility?]

Gynecol Obstet Fertil. 2009 Nov-Dec;37(11-12):942-50. doi: 10.1016/j.gyobfe.2009.09.006. Epub 2009 Oct 12.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Ovarian low malignant potential tumor account for 10 to 20 percent of ovarian epithelial tumors. They differ from typical ovarian cancers in that they do not grow into the ovarian stroma. Likewise, if they spread outside the ovary, for example, into the abdominal cavity, they do not usually grow into the lining of the abdomen. These cancers tend to affect women at a younger age than the typical ovarian cancers and are less life-threatening than most ovarian cancers. Guidelines for surgical treatment of borderline ovarian tumors are similar to those for ovarian cancer and include hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. However, patients with borderline ovarian tumors tend to be younger than women with invasive ovarian cancer. For many of these patients, fertility is an important issue. Previous studies have suggested the safety of conservative surgery with unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or cystectomy for patients with stage I borderline ovarian tumors. Despite infrequent data, this observation has been expanded to include women with advanced-stage disease. Recurrence is noted more often after this type of treatment, but does not seem to have a negative effect on survival. Management of conservative treatment (complete staging, cystectomy or oophorectomy, oophorectomy or adnexectomy) are still under debate since none avoids the malignant transformation risk. Thus, close follow-up is mandatory and the optimal moment for final oophorectomy remains unclear. When ovarian preservation is impossible, oocyte/ovarian cryopreservation or emergency ovarian induction before the surgical procedure to obtain embryos are promising but still under evaluated options.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Fertility / physiology*
  • Fertilization in Vitro / methods
  • Humans
  • Hysterectomy
  • Neoplasm Metastasis / pathology
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / surgery
  • Ovariectomy
  • Ovulation Induction / methods
  • Pregnancy
  • Prognosis