Mucinous borderline ovarian tumors: pathological and prognostic study at Salah Azaiez Institute

Abstract

Introduction: ovarian Mucinous Borderline Tumors (MBT) are characterized by an epithelial proliferation similar to those of well differentiated adenocarcinomas but are distinguished by the absence of stromal invasion. They are often difficult to diagnose histologically. The aim of the work was to specify the pathological and clinical features and to highlight the prognostic of these tumors.

Methods: study was retrospective including 49 cases of primary ovarian MBT, diagnosed at the Patholgy Department of Salah Azaiez Institute from 1992 to 2019.

Results: median age was 48 years old. Histologically, the cases were divided into 34 cases of pure MBT, 13 cases with intraepithelial carcinoma and 2 cases associating an intraepithelial carcinoma with microinvasion. The majority of our cases were classified FIGO I and only one case FIGO III. Sixteen patients received conservative treatment and 30 received radical treatment. The treatment wasn’t specified in three patients. The prognosis was good in the majority of cases. Only one patient had a contralateral recurrence after a follow-up period of three years. There were no significant difference regarding the risk of recurrence and risk factors such as age, gestation, hormonal status, FIGO stage and conservative treatment. We raised this part.

Conclusion: the prognosis of the ovarian MBT is good. However, it is necessary to multiply the samples to avoid missing a carcinomatous focus with an anarchic invasion of the stroma which constitutes a poor prognosis factor. It was changed by these sentences below: the diagnosis of MBT is not easy. Indeed, the distinction of MBT from carcinomas remains the greatest challenge for pathologists. Once this diagnosis is made with certainty, the tumor can be considered to have a good prognosis, especially stage I tumors which are the most common.