Fertility Sparing Surgery and Borderline Ovarian Tumours

Abstract

Simple SummaryFertility-sparing surgery (FSS) is now a widely acceptable treatment for the management of Borderline Ovarian Tumours (BOTs) in women of reproductive age. However, many clinicians face the dilemma of balancing the risks of disease recurrence with progression to lethal malignancy whilst preserving fertility, in the absence of clear standardized guidelines. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oncological outcomes in women who underwent FSS for the management of primary, or recurrent presentation of BOTs, to provide clinicians with further evidence of the safety and feasibility of FSS. Oncological outcomes following a novel method of FSS in the form of laparoscopic ultrasound guided ovarian wedge resection has also been introduced, which has the potential to change the way BOTs are managed in the future in women of reproductive age.To determine the oncological outcomes following fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) for the management of Borderline Ovarian Tumours (BOTs). A retrospective analysis of participants diagnosed with BOTs between January 2004 and December 2020 at the West London Gynaecological Oncology Centre was conducted. A total of 172 women were diagnosed; 52.3% (90/172) underwent FSS and 47.7% (82/172) non-FSS. The overall recurrence rate of disease was 16.9% (29/172), of which 79.3% (23/29) presented as the recurrence of serous or sero-mucinous BOTs and 20.7% (6/29) as low-grade serous carcinoma (LGSC). In the FSS group, the recurrence rate of BOTs was 25.6% (23/90) presenting a median 44.0 (interquartile range (IQR) 41.5) months, of which there were no episodes of recurrence presenting as LGSC reported. In the non-FSS group, all recurrences of disease presented as LGSC, with a rate of 7.7% (6/78), following a median of 47.5 months (IQR 47.8). A significant difference between the type of surgery performed (FSS v Non-FSS) and the association with recurrence of BOT was observed (Pearson Chi-Square: p = 0.000; x = 20.613). Twelve women underwent ultrasound-guided ovarian wedge resection (UGOWR) as a novel method of FSS. Recurrence of BOT was not significantly associated with the type of FSS performed (Pearson Chi- Square: x = 3.166, p = 0.379). Non-FSS is associated with negative oncological outcomes compared to FSS, as evidenced by the higher rate of recurrence of LGSC. This may be attributed to the indefinite long-term follow up with ultrasound surveillance all FSS women undergo, enabling earlier detection and treatment of recurrences.