[Serous and mucinous ovarian cystadenomas at the limit of malignancy]

The present study analyzes the anatomical and clinical elements in 53 cases of low potential malignant ovarian tumors (24 serous and 29 mucinous) from the biopsies of our Institute collected during the period 1966 to 1976. 17 serous tumors were stage I, 2 stage IIB, 3 stage III and 2 stage IV. All the mucinous tumors were stage I. 4 cases exhibited ascites. A third of the serous tumors were bilateral, while all the mucinous tumors were unilateral. Treatment in all cases was excision of the tumor with or without hysterectomy. In 12 cases complementary chemotherapy was given. Follow-up studies were performed only in 36 of the 53 cases and showed that no patient died of her tumor. This illustrates well the low malignant potential of this type of tumor even when discovered at an advanced stage. The diagnosis is histological and based on precise criteria requiring wide microscopic sampling. Experience shows that differentiation between borderline tumors and carcinoma is more difficult in mucinous than in serous tumors. Due to the particular classification of these tumors, which could lead to confusion, the diagnostic formulation must be absolutely accurate if it is to be understood clearly by the physician.