Laparoscopic treatment of borderline ovarian tumorsin fertile women

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the benefits of laparoscopy and the fertility preserving approach in the borderline ovarian tumors. These tumors often occur in young women of childbearing age. The patient and the surgeon face a serious problem, especially for women who wish to maintain the possibility of pregnancy. Laparoscopy in these situations appear to be one of the preferred treatment methods. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University Prague, Gynecology and Obstetrics Department; P. J. Safarik University, L. Pasteur University Hospital, Kosice, Gynecology and Obstetrics Department; Hospital Ceske Budějovice. METHODS: Analysis of the data in 23 women who desired fertility and were operated laparoscopically for borderline ovarian tumors. We evaluated the extend of laparoscopic surgery, peri- and postoperative complications and final results of histopathological findings. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 30,4 years. All patients were completely staged during second laparoscopic operation. In 14 of 23 (60.9%) cases serous borderline tumor was identified, in 8 of 23 (34.8%) cases mucinous borderline tumor was identified and in one case Brenner tumor was diagnosed. Peritoneal implants were present in 5/14 (35.7%) of serous tumors and in 3/8 (25%) of mucinous tumors. Involvement of contralateral ovary is also calculated. CONCLUSION: Borderline ovarian tumors occur in women who wish to maintain the possibility of pregnancy. For these patients, we choose based on their desire, conservative surgery. This treatment can be done by laparoscopy. Intraoperative ruptures of the tumor are more likely during lapaparoscopic procedures compared with laparotomy. In contrast, laparoscopy provides, besides well-known advantages, better optical evaluation of the abdominal cavity, including the detection of superficial peritoneal implants. For the objective evaluation of the laparoscopic approach in patients with fertility desire, further prospective comparative study are needed.