Oncologic and reproductive outcomes of cystectomy compared with oophorectomy as a treatment for borderline ovarian tumours

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the oncologic and reproductive outcomes of patients with borderline ovarian tumours (BOTs) who were treated with cystectomy or unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (USO). The medical records of patients with BOTs who were treated between 1997 and 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. The recurrence rates were compared between the USO and cystectomy groups. The reproductive outcomes were assessed by telephone interviews. Patients with BOTs underwent a USO (n= 117) or cystectomy (n= 38). There were 12 patients who had recurrences: 1 patient had an invasive recurrence and 11 had borderline recurrences. The recurrence rate in the USO group (6.0%) was lower than in the cystectomy group (13.2%); however, this difference was not statistically significant (P= 0.110). All of the patients with recurrences were successfully treated with surgery and there was no clinical evidence of disease. Of the 116 patients contacted by telephone, 113 (97.4%) resumed menstruation following the surgery, and 45 of the 52 patients (86.5%) who attempted to conceive had successful pregnancies. USO (89.2%), like cystectomy (85.7%), resulted in excellent pregnancy rates for patients with BOTs. A USO is an appropriate treatment for women with BOTs who wish to preserve fertility. However, a cystectomy is a satisfactory fertility-sparing therapy when a cystectomy is the only surgical option.