Ovarian carcinoma of low malignant potential: staging and treatment

A review of 65 cases of ovarian carcinoma of low malignant potential registered at the Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation over a 7 1/2-year period was undertaken. Eighty-four percent of patients presented with Stage I disease, which was confirmed by primary staging laparotomy in 25%. The average age at diagnosis was younger than that commonly found in patients with invasive carcinoma. Fourteen patients received postoperative chemotherapy, of whom 10 were evaluated with second-look laparotomy. No patient with macroscopic residual disease after initial surgery was cured by chemotherapy. This report emphasizes the need for a prospective controlled study to evaluate adjunctive chemotherapy in the treatment of these tumors.