Clinical analysis of borderline ovarian tumors

Purpose: The goal of this study was to evaluate the incidence and clinical features of borderline ovarian tumors (BOTS). Methods: We retrospectively performed chart reviews of 22 patients with BOTS who were diagnosed and treated in the university medical center from 1998 to 2009 inclusively. Results: BOTS among ovarian pathology in our hospital were detected in 22 patients (1.79%). The mean age was 50 years, range (20-90). Post surgical FIGO staging was Stage I = 86.4%, and Stage II = 13.6%. The most common histologic subtype was mucinous (59%). Five patients (22.7%) had a unilocular cyst at ultrasonography. Conservative surgery was performed in 31.8%. One patient of them had normal spontaneous delivery after term pregnancy. Two patients had a recurrence. One patient with recurrent disease underwent transformation to invasive cancer and died 35 months after the initial diagnosis. Conclusion: Clinicians should warn patients about the early relapse of BOTS and these patients may need careful follow-up due to the possibility of recurrences.