What are the individual perceptions of patients with borderline tumours of the ovary in regard to pathogenesis and prognosis? A structured survey on 60 women

Abstract

Limited data exist about the perception of patients with borderline ovarian tumours (BOT). We assessed the individual perception of patients with BOT, with special focus on the biological-behaviour of the disease. Sixty patients with BOT who underwent surgery during January 2001 to June 2009 were interviewed by a 9-item-questionnaire, at the earliest, 12months postoperatively. The aim was to assess their estimation regarding the malignant potential of BOT, its impact on their future fertility, the risk of recurrence and death and the possible causes of BOT. Seventeen women incriminated occupational-stress as a causative factor; 8 women genetic-predisposition, and 7 women personal-stress. Only 10 (16.7%) patients evaluated the BOT malignant potential as equivalent to that of a benign ovarian-cyst, while 28 (46.7%) and 20 (33.3%) patients believed carrying the same or equivalent recurrence- and mortality-risk, respectively, like patients with ovarian cancer (OC). Most fertile patients (19/23; 82.6%) felt adequately informed about the impact of BOT on their future fertility, while four patients stated being insufficiently informed. Despite the overall favourable BOT prognosis, affected patients appear to correlate their malignant potential close to that of OC with an equivalent high risk of recurrence. However, patients do not expect to die of BOT. There is a high need to intensify information process regarding BOT. Future trials are warranted to evaluate whether this may substantially influence the patients' perspectives.

Keywords:

• Borderline ovarian tumour
• cancer
• oncology
• mortality
• survival
• fertility

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper