Low-malignant potential epithelial tumors of the ovary: a clinicopathological study.

The incidence and clinical features of low-malignant potential (LMP) epithelial tumors of the ovary were investigated in a review of the 650 ovarian tumor cases diagnosed and treated at the University of Crete (Greece) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1991-96. 401 of these cases were epithelial tumors. Of these 282 (70.32%) were benign 96 (23.94%) were malignant and 23 (5.74%) were LMP. LMP serous epithelial tumors accounted for 4.36% of all serous tumors while LMP mucinous tumors contributed 9.70% of the mucinous tumors. LMP serous tumors averaged 8 cm in diameter; 83% were unilocular and 76.5% were unilateral. LMP mucinous tumors averaged 17 cm in diameter; 95% were multilocular and 95% were unilateral. The primary presenting symptoms were pelvic pain (35%) palpable mass (30%) and menstrual aberrations (15%). Only 1 case of extra-ovarian metastasis was reported. The mean age at diagnosis was 39 years for LMP serous tumors and 48 years for LMP mucinous tumors. Prognosis for women with stage I ovarian tumors of LMP is excellent with a 99% survival rate.