[Study on management of low potential malignancy ovarian tumors]

Thirty-six patients with low potential malignancy ovarian tumors were treated at our hospital from 1972 to 1986. Of these, 80.6% were classified as stage I, 5.6% as stage II, and 13.9% as stage III. Sixteen patients were treated by simple total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, 15 patients by unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, 2 patients by enucleation of the tumor, and 3 patients by exploratory laparotomy. In stage I no difference between the survival rates for the conservative therapy group and the radical therapy group was seen. Postoperative radiation therapy was given to 4 patients with dysgerminoma, and chemotherapy was given to 13 other patients. The five-year survival rate for stage I was 91.7%, better than for stage I malignant ovarian tumors, which was 78.9%. But the five-year survival rate for stage II and stage III was 0%. Analysis indicated that: 1. Prognosis of stage I patients is so good that treatments may be done in consideration of the patient's fertility. 2. The importance of adequate postoperative treatment and of strict follow up to guard against recurrence of malignancy is important in patients with stage II or stage III disease.