Epithelial ovarian tumours of low malignant potential

The available literature and the management of epithelial tumours of low malignant potential (LMP) is reviewed. The criteria for a diagnosis of LMP at the University of the Witwatersrand are delineated in detail. Based on the records in the Ovarian Tumour Registry of this University, experience with 29 such tumours over 4 years is presented. Of these, 14 (48.3%) were of the serous variety, 12 were mucinous (41.4%), and 2 (6.9%) were mucinous-serous, the remaining 1 (3.4%) being endometrioid. LMP tumours accounted for 12.9% of proliferating epithelial ovarian tumours in black patients compared with 16.9% in white patients. Pelviperitoneal cytological washings for detection of malignant cells in patients with LMP tumours is mandatory.