Surgery for borderline tumor of the ovary

The five-year survival for women with Stage I borderline tumors is about 95% to 97%, but because of late recurrence the 10-year survival is only 70% to 95%. The five-year survival for Stage II-III patients is 65% to 87%. A more correct staging procedure, classification of true serous implants, and agreement on how the presence of gelatinous ascites in mucinous tumors contributes to cancer stage might change the distribution of stage and survival data by stage for women with borderline tumors in the future. Independent prognostic factors for patients with borderline tumors without residual tumor after primary surgery are: DNA ploidy, morphometry, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, histologic type, and age. Different types of surgery and chemotherapy were not independent prognostic factors. Questions which should be addressed include the following: 1) Have patients with borderline tumors been over treated in general, and how should these patients be treated? 2) In which group of patients is fertility-sparing surgery advisable? 3) Do patients with borderline tumors benefit from adjuvant treatment? And 4) How is the high-risk patient defined?