Contemporary surgical management of borderline ovarian tumors: a survey of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists

Borderline tumours of the ovary: Common practice in the Netherlands

Objectives

Discordance between frozen section diagnosis and the definite histopathological diagnosis and the fact that the frozen section result is not always unambiguous, may contribute to differences in clinical practice regarding perioperative treatment and follow-up of borderline ovarian tumours (BOTs) patients amongst gynaecologic oncologists, which may lead to over- and undertreatment. The aim of the study was to map the Dutch gynaecologists' preferred treatment and follow-up strategy in case of BOTs.

Methods

A questionnaire was sent to all Dutch gynaecologists involved in ovarian surgery with perioperative frozen section analysis, and the outcomes were assessed using descriptive statistics.

Results

Nearly half of the respondents (41.0%) would not perform a staging procedure in case of a BOT. In case of an ambiguous frozen section diagnosis, tending towards invasive carcinoma, a considerable number (sBOT 56.4%; mBOT 30.8%) would perform a lymph node sampling as part of the staging procedure. A relaparotomy/relaparoscopy, to perform a lymph node sampling in case of a serous or mucinous carcinoma after a BOT frozen section diagnosis, would be performed by 97.4% and 48.7% of the respondents, respectively.

Conclusions

A considerable number of gynaecologists would perform a staging procedure that is recommended for ovarian cancer in case of an ambiguous BOT frozen section diagnosis, especially for serous tumours. In addition, nearly all gynaecologists would perform a second procedure including a lymph node sampling in case of a serous invasive carcinoma after a BOT frozen section diagnosis, which applies to half of the gynaecologists in case of a mucinous carcinoma.

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In case of an unambiguous frozen section BOT diagnosis, a staging procedure is omitted by nearly half of the gynaecologists.

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When the frozen section BOT diagnosis is ambiguous, a full ovarian cancer staging procedure is frequently performed.

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Most gynaecologists perform a second procedure to complete staging when definitive diagnosis shows invasive ovarian cancer.

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Full staging is performed more frequently in case of serous histopathology, when compared to mucinous tumours.

Assessing the risk of clinical and pathologic factors for relapse of borderline ovarian tumours

The objective of this study was to identify clinical and pathologic factors that are significant to relapse in borderline ovarian tumours (BOT). All patients with BOTs from 1997 to 2012 in our institute were identified. 115 patients were included in the study. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify significant factors. The median age was 42 years (range 14-85 years). The majority of the patients were at FIGO stage I (88.7%), and most of the patients had mucinous histology (66.1%), reflecting the predominant distribution of mucinous BOTs in East Asia. The median follow-up was 3.3 years (range 0-4.1 years). Twelve patients (10.4%) relapsed and two died consequently. Advanced stage, invasive implants and restaging surgery were significant factors of recurrence. Serous tumours had slightly higher risk than mucinous tumours, but the difference was not significant. As the study was performed in an area where mucinous BOTs are predominant, the results may complement current literature on BOT management.

Staging for low malignant potential ovarian tumors: a global perspective

OBJECTIVE

We describe current evidence for staging low malignant potential ovarian tumors and their conformity to current consensus guidelines and practice from an international perspective.

DATA SOURCES

A search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases was conducted for articles published between January 1990 and April 2015.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Studies on low malignant potential ovarian tumors that evaluated the prognostic value of disease stage, staging vs no staging, complete vs incomplete staging, or discrete components of staging were eligible. Studies that described only crude survival rates were excluded.

STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS

Eligible studies were categorized according to their outcome (disease stage, staging procedure, or discrete staging elements). Data were abstracted using a standard form. Inconsistencies on data abstraction were resolved by consensus among the authors. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS

Of 1116 studies, 702 were excluded for irrelevance and 364 for not meeting inclusion criteria. Nine studies were excluded for describing crude survival rates without a comparative conclusion. We found that studies supporting the value of defining disease stage or staging procedures (mostly conducted in northern Europe) included more patients than studies that did not find disease stage or staging useful (predominantly from North America, 4072 vs 3951). Disease stage correlated with survival in 13 of 25 studies, whereas none of the studies that evaluated the value of staging found it beneficial (9 studies, 1979 patients). Studies that evaluated isolated components of staging found no benefit to these procedures. Regional guidelines and consensus reviews drew conclusions based on a limited number of studies that generally originated from the same region.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the correlation of stage with survival was mixed, performing staging procedures for low malignant potential ovarian tumors is not supported by the best available evidence. Guidelines in support of staging based their recommendations on a few regional studies and conflict with better-quality data that do not support staging procedures. An international consensus statement is needed to standardize the surgical management of low malignant potential ovarian tumors.

Comorbidity and survival of Danish ovarian cancer patients from 2000-2011: a population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the prevalence of comorbidity among patients diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer in the Central Denmark Region and to study the impact of comorbidity on cancer survival over time.

METHODS

We included women recorded with a first-time diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer in the Danish National Registry of Patients in the Central Denmark region between 2000 and 2011. We followed their survival through the Danish Civil Registration System. We estimated 1- and 5-year survival overall and stratified by Charlson Comorbidity Index score. We used Cox proportional hazard regression analyses to compute adjusted mortality rate ratios (MRRs) within different calendar time periods overall and by comorbidity level.

RESULTS

We identified 1,540 patients. In 2000-2002, 25% of the newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patients had a comorbidity diagnosis compared with 35% in 2009-2011. Median age increased from 61 to 66 years. One-year overall survival changed from 73% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 69-78) in 2000-2002 to 69% (95% CI: 63-73) in 2009-2011, corresponding to an age- and comorbidity-adjusted MRR of 1.03 (95% CI: 0.79-1.36). Five-year survival changed only slightly during the study period, from 37% (95% CI: 32-42) in 2000-2002 to 39% (95% CI: 34-44) in 2009-2011. In patients with Charlson score ≥3, 1-year survival changed from 63% (95% CI: 35-81) in 2000-2002 to 41% (95% CI: 24-57) in 2003-2005 and thereafter stabilized. One-year survival changed from 56% (95% CI: 44-66) to 64% (95% CI: 53-74) in patients with Charlson score 1-2. Compared with Charlson score 0, adjusted 1-year MRRs for Charlson score ≥3 were 1.44 (95% CI: 0.62-3.36) in 2000-2002 and 2.11 (95% CI: 1.27-3.51) in 2009-2011, whereas adjusted 1-year MRRs for Charlson score 1-2 changed from 2.04 (95% CI: 1.33-3.14) in 2000-2002 to 1.09 (95% CI: 0.69-1.71) in 2009-2011.

CONCLUSION

Comorbidity increased among ovarian cancer patients over time and was associated with poor survival. One- and 5-year overall survivals changed only little and an expected decrease in survival, following increased prevalence of comorbidity and increasing age of patients, may have been counteracted by more aggressive surgery.

Survival of patients with ovarian cancer in central and northern Denmark, 1998-2009

Objective

To examine time trends of survival and mortality of ovarian cancer in the central and northern Denmark regions during the period 1998–2009.

Study design and setting

We conducted a cohort study including women recorded with a first-time diagnosis of ovarian cancer in the Danish National Registry of Patients (DNRP) between 1998 and 2009. Patients were followed for survival through the Danish Civil Registration System. We determined survival stratified by age, and used Cox proportional hazard regression analyses to obtain mortality rate ratios (MRRs) to assess changes over time.

Results

We found no improvement in overall ovarian cancer survival between 1998 and 2009. One-year survival was 71% in 1998–2000 and 68% in 2007–2009. Three-year survival declined from 48% in 1998–2000 to 46% in 2007–2009 (predicted), and 5-year survival declined from 40% in 1998–2000 to 37% in 2007–2009 (predicted). Compared with the period 1998–2000, the age-adjusted 1-year MRR was 1.05 (95% confidence interval CI: 0.86–1.28) for the period 2007–2009, and the predicted age-adjusted 3- and 5-year MRRs were 0.96 (95% CI: 0.83–1.12) and 0.99 (95% CI: 0.86–1.14), respectively. Results are not adjusted for tumor stage as this information was not available. We also observed a decline in the annual number of incident ovarian cancer patients during the study period, most pronounced in the youngest age group.

Conclusion

The survival of ovarian cancer patients did not improve during the study period. This lack of improvement contrasts with the national cancer strategies implemented during this last decade, focusing on improving the survival of ovarian cancer patients.

Clinical management of borderline ovarian tumors

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) are epithelial tumors of the ovaries characterized by cellular proliferation and nuclear atypia but without an infiltrative growth pattern. As they frequently affect younger patients the clinical management is complicated by considerations such as preserving fertility and reducing postoperative morbidity. Over the past several decades surgical therapy has shifted from a radical approach to more conservative treatment. There are various modes of surgery applied to the patients. All these developments have to be considered from an oncologic standpoint as BOTs represent a potentially malignant disease. Oncologic safety, as well as patients' desires and expectations, have to be balanced to reach the most appropriate treatment for BOTs. For this reason current literature will be discussed in this review to give a thorough overview of this topic and to develop recommendations for the surgical management of these patients. Open questions will be identified to elaborate the need for future surveys and research.

Laparoscopy in the treatment of ovarian tumours of low malignant potential

Laparoscopy is increasingly used by gynaecologists for the investigation of adnexal masses. Uncertainty exists whether ovarian tumours of low malignant potential can effectively be treated by laparoscopy, whether staging bears a benefit for all patients, whether port-site metastases are a problem and how long patients need to be followed up after surgery. This review summarises the evidence to address these important questions.

Management of borderline ovarian neoplasms

Over the last decades, the management of borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) has changed from radical surgery to more conservative therapy as a result of the need for fertility-sparing surgery and the increasing use of laparoscopy. The question is whether this is good clinical practice from an oncologic point of view. Here, recent literature regarding management of borderline ovarian neoplasms is reviewed, and oncologic concerns are discussed with emphasis on the mode of surgery and the possibility of fertility-sparing surgery and its consequences. Proper staging is defined as an exploration of the entire abdominal cavity with peritoneal washings, infracolic omentectomy, and multiple peritoneal biopsies as the cornerstone of a successful treatment, and this is only possible through a midline incision. For stage I disease, conservative surgery consisting of unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy or cystectomy in case of bilateral ovarian involvement or when the disease develops in the only remaining ovary is a valuable alternative in a number of young patients who want to preserve their fertility. Patients with advanced-stage disease or who are finished childbearing are treated with radical surgery consisting of peritoneal washings, total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, infracolic omentectomy, complete peritoneal resection of macroscopic lesions, or multiple peritoneal biopsies; in case of mucinous BOTs, patients also are treated with an appendectomy.

The management of borderline tumours of the ovary

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The treatment of borderline ovarian tumours has been similar to that for their invasive counterparts for a long time. However, in view of the good prognosis for borderline ovarian tumours, their occurrence in a younger age group and the development of less invasive techniques, the question can be asked as to whether a more conservative treatment is warranted.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent articles discuss the mode of surgery (laparotomy or laparoscopy), the possibility of fertility-sparing surgery, the need for restaging procedures and adjuvant therapy.

SUMMARY

The ultimate goal in treating patients with borderline ovarian cancer is defining those patients with bad prognostic factors and risk for recurrence and who consequently require more aggressive therapy. A proper staging procedure is crucial to estimate the risk. Translational research might help identify borderline tumours with poor prognosis. Fertility-sparing surgery is often a good option in young patients with Fédération International de Gynécologie et Obstétrie (FIGO) stage I disease or in selected cases with noninvasive implants, since long-term survival does not seem to be negatively influenced by conservative surgery.

Retrospective cohort study of surgical staging for ovarian low malignant potential tumors

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the benefit of surgically staging ovarian low malignant potential tumors.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study of all ovarian low malignant potential tumors that were diagnosed by frozen section or final pathologic review from 2003 to 2005.

RESULTS

Twenty-two of 32 patients (69%) were staged surgically. Sixteen low malignant potential tumors were stage I by final pathologic review, and 4 tumors were upstaged to stage II-III disease. Two other patients had early invasive ovarian carcinoma, despite a frozen section that suggested low malignant potential; 1 patient received adjuvant chemotherapy. The tumors of 10 women (31%) were unstaged. Frozen section suspicion of low malignant potential (P = .003) and surgery by a gynecologic oncologist (P < .001) correlated with staging. Preoperative CA-125, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative hospitalization were increased in patients with staged disease (each P < .05). Two women who underwent fertility-sparing surgery experienced a recurrence in the contralateral ovary.

CONCLUSION

Surgical staging of ovarian low malignant potential tumors has limited value for most patients, unless invasive carcinoma is diagnosed by final pathologic review.

Serous and mucinous borderline (low malignant potential) tumors of the ovary

The prognosis for stage I serous borderline ovarian tumors (SBOTs) is thought to be excellent, despite rare, late recurrences. The behavior of advanced-stage SBOTs primarily depends on the invasiveness vs noninvasiveness of associated extraovarian implants. Pelvic and abdominal lymph node involvement and foci of microinvasion do not seem to adversely affect prognosis. Serous tumors with a micropapillary and/or cribriform growth pattern seem to be more frequently bilateral and exophytic and manifest at an advanced stage with a higher incidence of invasive implants than typical SBOTs. Molecular data suggest that such tumors may represent an intermediate stage in the typical SBOT-invasive low-grade serous carcinoma progression. Limited experience with endocervical (müllerian)-type mucinous borderline tumors shows a possible relation to SBOTs in clinicopathologic features and biologic behavior Intestinal-type mucinous borderline ovarian tumors (I-MBOTs) and well-differentiated mucinous carcinomas manifest at stage I in most cases; the prognosis is excellent. Mucinous tumors associated with pseudomyxoma peritonei are almost always secondary to similar tumors of the appendix or other gastrointestinal sites and should not be diagnosed as high-stage I-MBOTs. Rare primary ovarian mucinous tumors associated with pseudomyxoma peritonei are those arising in mature cystic teratomas. Advanced-stage ovarian mucinous carcinomas typically show frank, infiltrative-type invasion; the prognosis is poor.

Fertility and recurrence results of conservative surgery for borderline ovarian tumors

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the fertility and recurrence outcomes in women treated with fertility-sparing surgery for borderline ovarian tumors.

METHODS

A total of 142 patients with borderline ovarian tumors managed surgically from 1993 to 2004 were identified from gynecologic oncology and pathology files of SSK Ankara Maternity and Women's Health Teaching Hospital. Sixty-two of those patients who had conservative surgery were eligible for the study. Information was acquired by retrospective medical record review and patient interview.

RESULTS

The observed recurrence rates after radical and fertility-sparing surgery were 0.0% and 6.5%, respectively. Four patients from the conservative surgery group developed recurrence, in contrast to none of the patients from the non-conservative surgery group. No disease-related deaths occurred in any group. In the conservatively managed group, ten women had successful pregnancies, with a total of 10 live births and 3 abortions. The mean duration of follow-up for the conservative surgery group was 44.3 months (range, 3-128).

CONCLUSION

Fertility-sparing surgery for borderline ovarian tumors should be considered for women in the reproductive age group who desire preservation of fertility. Recurrence is noted significantly more often after this type of treatment and close follow-up is needed to detect recurrent disease.

Surgical Staging of Ovarian Low Malignant Potential Tumors

OBJECTIVE

Women diagnosed with ovarian tumors of low malignant potential have an excellent prognosis. Because few will receive adjuvant therapy, the benefit of surgical staging has recently been challenged. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome of surgically staged patients with low malignant potential tumors with those who were not staged.

METHODS

Between 1984 and 2003, all women with ovarian low malignant potential tumors were identified at 3 institutions. Data were extracted from clinical records.

RESULTS

One hundred eighty-three (74%) of 248 women were surgically staged. Forty of 183 staged patients had clinically obvious extraovarian disease. Forty (28%) of the remaining 143 women with disease apparently confined to the ovary were upstaged. Cytologic washings were positive in 28 cases, 10 had microscopic implants detected by peritoneal or omental biopsy, and 2 were upstaged to stage IIIC solely on the basis of nodal metastases. One hundred eighteen women underwent pelvic node dissection (median: 5 nodes), and 86 underwent para-aortic node dissection (median: 2 nodes). Overall, 9 (1%) metastases were detected in 832 submitted pelvic nodes. All 314 para-aortic nodes were negative. Intraoperative blood loss (P <.001) and length of hospital stay (P <.001) were increased in women without gross disease who were surgically staged. Eight (3%) of 248 patients received adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy, but neither of the women upstaged to IIIC based on the results of their nodal dissection were treated. Fifteen (6%) recurrences developed and 1 (0.4%) death occurred after a median follow-up of 28 (range, 1-208) months.

CONCLUSION

Routine pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection is not necessary in the majority of women with ovarian low malignant potential tumors.

Borderline ovarian tumors

Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) represent a small subset of epithelial ovarian cancers that were first described more than 70 years ago. Recognized in a systematic way in only the last three decades, BOTs occur most often in women in their reproductive years but are associated with an excellent long-term prognosis. The management of these tumors is primarily surgical, with the role of medical therapy a topic of ongoing research and debate.