Objective: Ovarian low malignant potential (LMP) tumors have an excellent prognosis when treated by surgical resection. Conservative management usually involves leaving behind the uterus and contralateral adnexa to allow future childbearing. The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome of women treated with fertility-sparing surgery.
Methods: All patients diagnosed with ovarian LMP tumors between 1984 and 2003 were identified at three institutions. Data were retrospectively extracted from clinical records.
Results: Thirty-eight (15%) of 249 women with LMP tumors underwent fertility-sparing surgery. Twenty-three were nulliparous and four primiparous. Thirty-three (87%) underwent unilateral salpingo-ophorectomy and five (13%) cystectomy. Fourteen patients also had contralateral cystectomy or biopsy. Thirty-four (89%) were stage I, one (3%) stage II and three (8%) stage III. Most tumors had serous (55%) or mucinous (42%) histology. No patients received adjuvant therapy. Six (16%) of 38 recurred after a median follow-up of 26 months: five in the remaining ovary were salvaged with surgical resection alone, and none died from recurrent LMP tumor. Five women delivered six term infants during post-treatment surveillance.
Conclusion: Fertility-sparing surgery for ovarian LMP tumors is an option for motivated patients. Preservation of the contralateral adnexa increases the risk of recurrence, but surgical resection is usually curative.