Management guidelines for incidental uterine surgery in early pregnancy: a case report of a robotic myomectomy at 4 weeks gestation after a false-negative pregnancy test.

Objective: To share our case and offer guidance to practitioners on the management of incidental uterine surgery in early pregnancy. Although elective uterine surgery should be avoided during pregnancy, there is always a chance of undetected pregnancy at the time of surgery, even after all precautions have been taken. There is currently minimal literature on the management and outcomes of uterine surgery during pregnancy. Design: Case report. Setting: University Hospital. Patient: A 42-year-old G1P1 female with symptomatic fibroids desiring fertility-sparing surgery was retroactively found to be 4 weeks pregnant at the time of surgery, even after a negative pregnancy test and low suspicion for pregnancy under Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Intervention: Robotic-assisted laparoscopic myomectomy performed with a false-negative urine pregnancy test at the time of surgery. Main Outcome Measures: Guidance for surveillance and management options during continued pregnancy after robotic uterine surgery and cavity disruption by a uterine manipulator performed at 4 weeks gestation that went undetected at the time of surgery. Results: The patient was able to undergo an uncomplicated delivery by cesarean section at 38 weeks and delivered a healthy infant. Conclusion: Using a multidisciplinary approach, we describe guidelines for antepartum surveillance uterine surgery during an undetected pregnancy, which resulted in the delivery of a term healthy infant.

Fertility-sparing strategy in a rare case of highly malignant Dicer-1-associated sarcoma of the cervix.

INTRODUCTION: We present the rare case of an 18-year-old patient with a Dicer-1 mutation-associated sarcoma of the cervix uteri. CASE: The patient presented with irregular vaginal bleeding in July 2022. The clinical examination showed an exophytic tumor of the cervix, uterus and ovaries were normal in sonogram. The tumor of the cervix was resected, followed by a diagnostic hysteroscopy and abrasion of the uterine cervix and cavity. Hysteroscopy showed normal findings of the cervix and uterus. After diagnosis of a highly malignant Dicer-1 mutation-associated sarcoma of the cervix, cryopreservation of oocytes was realized. Based on the principle of obtaining maximum oncological safety while preserving fertility in this 18-year-old patient, we recommended chemotherapy rather than radiation with its far severe implications on the patient´s reproductive organs. 4 cycles of chemotherapy consisting of doxorubicin and ifosfamide were applied until December 2022. After re-staging in December 2022 via CT scan and MRI, the abdomen and pelvis as well as control hysteroscopy and abrasion were unremarkable. Until now, the patient is tumor free. DISCUSSION: Primary sarcomas of the cervix are very rare. Recent literature hints towards a distinct DICER-1 sarcoma entity characterized by specific mutational clusters. Limited follow-up data suggested that DICER1-mutant tumors might exhibit a less aggressive clinical course than DICER1-wild-type tumors. CONCLUSION: Decision-making in case of rare histological entities with sparse recommendations in the literature poses a challenge to the treating physician. Treatment strategies should consider oncological safety as well as options of preserving fertility. Gonadotoxic potential of different strategies should be taken into consideration and discussed in detail with the affected patient.

Current research of Assisted Reproductive Technology for women with early endometrial cancer and atypical endometrial hyperplasia after conservative treatment.

As the incidence of endometrial cancer (EC) and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) has been increasing, and has shown young trend. It is crucial to study the fertility-preserving treatment of endometrial lesions and fertility-promoting protocols. Age, obesity, and irregular ovulation are not only high-risk factors for endometrial lesions but also key factors affecting female fertility. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) can significantly improve pregnancy outcomes in patients with AEH and EC after conservative treatment. Based on the existing studies, this article reviews the progress of research on pregnancy outcomes of ART and its influencing factors in such patients. It helps physicians in providing optimal fertility guidance.

Spontaneous pregnancy after fertility-sparing surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced pure dysgerminoma: A case report.

Key Clinical Message: Fertility-sparing surgery and appropriate adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced malignant ovarian germ cell tumors have excellent survival results and promising reproductive and obstetric outcomes. Abstract: This case report aims to demonstrate the potential feasibility and success of fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) coupled with adjuvant chemotherapy in treating advanced malignant ovarian germ cell tumor (MOGCT), focusing on pure dysgerminoma, fertility, and achieving spontaneous pregnancy. The patient was a 23-year-old female who initially presented with complaints of abdominal distension and a palpable mass and was subsequently diagnosed with advanced MOGCT. The patient provided a complete clinical and radiological response to FSS with complete surgical staging and cisplatin-based chemotherapy (bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin). Despite being diagnosed with advanced MOGCT and treated with FSS and adjuvant chemotherapy, she later experienced spontaneous pregnancy, giving birth to a healthy child. This case study demonstrated the potential for successful fertility preservation and pregnancy in advanced-stage MOGCT patients treated with personalized treatment approaches. Nevertheless, a broader investigation is needed to understand the relevant complex dynamics and to ascertain whether FSS with adjuvant chemotherapy could be a reliable approach in treating advanced MOGCT.

The top 100 most cited articles on fertility-sparing treatments for cervical cancer: A bibliometric analysis.

Background: The primary objective of this paper was to assess and analyze the top 100 most cited articles currently cited in studies of fertility-sparing treatments for cervical cancer. Methods: Searching the Web of Science Core Collection database for the top 100 most cited articles on fertility-sparing treatments for cervical cancer, different aspects of the articles were analyzed, including countries, journals, institutions, authors, keywords and topics. Results: The search was conducted up to August 2023, and the number of citations for the top 100 articles ranged from 19 to 212. These articles originated from 28 different countries, with Professor Plante, M. from Canada and Professor Sonoda, Y. from the USA having the highest number of articles, both with 10. Professor Plante, M. was the first author of 9 articles and corresponding author of 9 articles. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the USA published the most articles (21) and received a total of 258 citations. Gynecologic Oncology published 37 of the top 100 articles, with 524 citations and an average of 14.16 citations per article. Conclusions: The study concludes that the USA has made the most significant contributions to this field based on the number of articles, authors, and institutions. Additionally, keyword clustering and burst analysis revealed the research hotspots and future trends in this area.

Sentinel node mapping, sentinel node mapping plus back-up lymphadenectomy, and lymphadenectomy in Early-sTage cERvical caNcer scheduled for fertilItY-sparing approach: The ETERNITY project.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the safety of sentinel node mapping for patients with early-stage cervical cancer undergoing cervical conization plus nodal evaluation. METHODS: The ETERNITY project is a retrospective, multi-institutional study collecting data of patients with early-stage cervical cancer undergoing fertility-sparing treatment. Here, we compared outcomes related to three methods of nodal assessment: sentinel node mapping (SNM), SNM plus backup lymphadenectomy (SNM + LND); pelvic lymphadenectomy (LND). RESULTS: Charts of 123 patients (with stage IA1-IB1 cervical cancer) were evaluated. Median patients' age was 34 (range, 22-44) years. SNM, SNM + LND, and LND were performed in 32 (26 %), 31 (25.2 %), and 60 (48.8 %) patients, respectively. Overall, eight (6.5 %) patients were diagnosed with positive nodes. Two (3.3 %), three (9.7 %), and three (9.4 %) patients were detected in patients who had LND, SNM + LND, and SNM respectively. Considering the 63 patients undergoing SNM (31 SNM + LND and 32 SNM alone), macrometastases, micrometastases, and isolated tumor cells were detected in four (3.2 %), three (2.4 %), and one (0.8 %) patients, respectively. All patients with positive nodes discontinued the fertility sparing treatment. Other two patients (one (1.7 %) in the LND group and one (3.1 %) in the SNM group) required hysterectomy even after negative nodal evaluation. After a median follow-up of 53.6 (range, 1.3, 158.0) months, nine (7.3 %) and two (1.6 %) patients developed cervical and pelvic nodes recurrences, respectively. Disease-free (p = 0.332, log-rank test) and overall survival (p = 0.769, log-rank test) were similar among groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective experience, SNM upholds long-term oncologic effectiveness of LND, reducing morbidity.

Fertility-sparing re-treatment for endometrial cancer and atypical endometrial hyperplasia patients with progestin-resistance: a retrospective analysis of 61 cases.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the oncological and reproductive outcomes of fertility-preserving re-treatment in progestin-resistant endometrial carcinoma (EC) and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) women who desire to maintain their fertility. METHODS: Our study included 61 progestin-resistant EC/AEH patients. These patients underwent treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) solely or a combination of GnRHa with levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUD) or aromatase inhibitor (AI). Histological evaluations were performed every 3-4 months. Upon achieving complete remission (CR), we recommended maintenance treatments including LNG-IUD, cyclical oral contraceptives, or low-dose cyclic progestin until they began attempting conception. Regular follow-up was conducted for all patients. The chi-square method was utilized to compare oncological and fertility outcomes, while the Cox proportional hazards regression analysis helped identify risk factors for CR, recurrence, and pregnancy. RESULTS: Overall, 55 (90.2%) patients achieved CR, including 90.9% of AEH patients and 89.7% of EC patients. The median re-treatment time was 6 months (ranging from 3 to 12 months). The CR rate for GnRHa alone, GnRHa + LNG-IUD and GnRHa + AI were 80.0%, 91.7% and 93.3%, respectively. After a median follow-up period of 36 months (ranging from 3 to 96 months), 19 women (34.5%) experienced recurrence, 40.0% in AEH and 31.4% in EC patients, with the median recurrence time of 23 months (ranging from 6 to 77 months). Among the patients who achieved CR, 39 expressed a desire to conceive, 20 (51.3%) became pregnant, 11 (28.2%) had successfully deliveries, 1 (5.1%) was still pregnant, while 8 (20.5%) suffered miscarriages. CONCLUSION: GnRHa-based fertility-sparing treatment exhibited promising oncological and reproductive outcomes for progestin-resistant patients. Future larger multi-institutional studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

Oncological outcomes of fertility-sparing surgery versus radical surgery in stage - epithelial ovarian cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The oncological outcomes of fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) compared to radical surgery (RS) in patients with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remain a subject of debate. We evaluated the risk ratios (RRs) for outcomes in patients with stage I EOC who underwent FSS versus RS. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase for articles published up to November 29, 2023. Studies that did not involve surgical procedures or included pregnant patients were excluded. We calculated the RRs for disease-free survival, overall survival, and recurrence rate. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias in Nonrandomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool. The meta-analysis was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024546460). RESULTS: From the 5,529 potentially relevant articles, we identified 83 articles for initial screening and included 12 articles in the final meta-analysis, encompassing 2,906 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. There were no significant differences between the two groups in disease-free survival (RR [95% confidence interval {CI}], 0.90 [0.51, 1.58]; P = 0.71), overall survival (RR [95% CI], 0.74 [0.53, 1.03]; P = 0.07), and recurrence rate (RR [95% CI], 1.10 [0.69, 1.76]; P = 0.68). In sensitivity analyses, the significant difference was observed only for overall survival (before exclusion: RR [95% CI], 0.74 [0.53-1.03], P = 0.07; after exclusion: RR [95% CI], 0.70 [0.50-0.99]; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first and only individual patient data meta-analysis comparing disease-free survival, overall survival, and recurrence rate of patients with early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer undergoing FSS and RS. FSS was associated with similar disease-free survival and risk of recurrence as RS. We hypothesized that the decreased overall survival in the FSS group could not be attributed to distant metastases from epithelial ovarian cancer.

Ovarian sclerosing stromal tumor mimicking malignancy: case series and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Sclerosing stromal tumors (SST) are rare ovarian neoplasms that often appear as solid unilateral tumors of the ovary with no specific clinical or radiological presentation. The definitive treatment is surgical removal. CASE PRESENTATION: Our article presents four cases of female patients with sclerosing stromal ovarian tumor with clinical characteristics mimicking malignant ovarian lesions. Interestingly, two of our cases had elevated levels of inhibin B. All patients were treated with surgery (oophorectomy) and had no disease recurrence. CONCLUSION: Tumors' macroscopic features are usually non-specific and often suggestive of possible malignancy, therefore diagnosis is always based on histopathological report.

Follow-up of women with cervical adenocarcinoma in situ treated by conization: A single centre clinical experience.

OBJECTIVE: Hysterectomy has been the historical gold standard final step in the treatment algorithm of adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) recommended by most North American colposcopy guidelines. AIS disproportionately affects young childbearing age women, therefore a fertility sparing treatment option is desirable. Our study examines the impact of conservative treatment of AIS with conization followed by serial surveillance. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was completed of patients treated for AIS from 2006 to 2020. Charts were identified by pathologic diagnosis of AIS on cervical and uterine specimens. Charts were excluded if AIS was not treated with conization, if AIS was not confirmed on initial conization specimen, or if invasive disease was found at initial conization. RESULTS: 121 patient charts were analyzed. Median age of patients at first conization and hysterectomy was 34.8 and 40.9, respectively. First conization was by Cold Knife Cone in 58% of patients, and by Loop Electrosurgical Excisional Procedure in 42% of patients. Median follow-up period in our study was 609 days. 5% of patients had recurrence, with only one patient who recurred as cancer. One case of recurrence had a positive initial conization margin. Median time to recurrence was 700 days. 47% of patients underwent eventual hysterectomy. Residual AIS was found in 23% of hysterectomy specimens. Adenocarcinoma was diagnosed on hysterectomy specimen in four patients. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates the oncologic safety of treating AIS with conization and serial surveillance. Routine hysterectomy completed as a part of the AIS treatment algorithm, as in current clinical guidelines, is unnecessary.

Pregnancy and obstetric outcomes after fertility-sparing management of endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia: a multicentre cohort study.

STUDY QUESTION: What are the pregnancy and obstetric outcomes in women with atypical hyperplasia (AH) or early-stage endometrial cancer (EC) managed conservatively for fertility preservation? SUMMARY ANSWER: The study found a live birth rate of 62% in patients with AH or EC after conservative treatment, with higher level of labour induction, caesarean section, and post-partum haemorrhage. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Fertility-sparing treatment is a viable option for women with AH or EC during childbearing years, but the outcomes of such treatments, especially regarding pregnancy and obstetrics, need further exploration. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This retrospective cohort study analysed data from January 2010 to October 2022, involving 269 patients from the French national register of patients with fertility-sparing management of AH/EC. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Women above 18 years of age, previously diagnosed with AH/EC, and approved for fertility preservation were included. Patients were excluded if they were registered before 2010, if their treatment began <6 months before the study, or if no medical record on the pregnancy was available. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: In total, 95 pregnancies in 67 women were observed. Pregnancy was achieved using ART in 63 cases (66%) and the live birth rate was 62%, with early and late pregnancy loss at 26% and 5%, respectively. In the 59 cases resulting in a live birth, a full-term delivery occurred in 90% of cases; 36% of cases required labour induction and 39% of cases required a caesarean section. The most common maternal complications included gestational diabetes (17%) and post-partum haemorrhaging (20%). The average (±SD) birthweight was 3110 ± 736 g; there were no significant foetal malformations in the sample. No significant difference was found in pregnancy or obstetric outcomes between ART-obtained and spontaneous pregnancies. However, the incidence of induction of labour, caesarean section, and post-partum haemorrhage appears higher than in the general population. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: The retrospective nature of the study may introduce bias, and the sample size might be insufficient for assessing rare obstetric complications. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This study offers valuable insights for healthcare providers to guide patients who received fertility-sparing treatments for AH/EC. These pregnancies can be successful and with an acceptable live birth rate, but they seem to be managed with caution, leading to possible tendency for more caesarean sections and labour inductions. No increase in adverse obstetric outcomes was observed, with the exception of suspicion of a higher risk of post-partum haemorrhaging, to be confirmed. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): No funding was received for this study. There are no conflicts of interest to declare. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.

Mismatch repair deficiency and abnormal p53 expression has significant predictive value for progesterone resistance and endometrial tumorigenesis in patients with endometrial atypical hyperplasia receiving fertility-preserving treatment.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic ability of mismatch repair deficiency (MMR-d) and abnormal p53 expression (p53abn) in patients with endometrial atypical hyperplasia (EAH) who underwent fertility-preserving treatment. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated 51 patients with EAH who underwent fertility-sparing treatment. Endometrial biopsy specimens obtained before hormone therapy were collected and used for immunohistochemical staining for MMR and p53 proteins. Response, relapse, and progression rates were assessed based on age, body mass index, diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, reproductive history, MMR status, and p53 status. RESULTS: Overall, 11/51 (21.6%) patients had loss of MMR proteins and 6/51 (11.8%) had p53abn. Patients with MMR-d had lower complete response (CR) rates than those with normal staining patients at 12 months after initial treatment (p = 0.049). Patients with MMR-d had significantly higher relapse rates than those with MMR-p at the 1-year follow-ups after achieving CR (p = 0.035). Moreover, patients with MMR-d had a higher incidence of disease progression at 2, 3, and 4 years after fertility-sparing treatment (p = 0.001, p = 0.01 and p = 0.035, respectively). Patients with p53abn had higher relapse rates than those with p53wt at the 1- and 2-year follow-ups after achieving CR (p = 0.047 and p = 0.036, respectively). Moreover, patients with p53abn had a higher incidence of disease progression at 3 and 4 years after fertility-sparing treatment (p = 0.02 and p = 0.049, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: EAH patients with MMR-d and p53abn have a significantly higher risk of disease relapse and progression. Thus, MMR-d and p53abn may be used as predictive biomarkers of progestin resistance and endometrial tumorigenesis in EAH.

Fertility-sparing surgery in children and adolescents with borderline ovarian tumors: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of children and adolescents with borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) and evaluate the efficacy and safety of fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) in these patients. METHODS: Patients with BOTs younger than 20 years who underwent FSS were included in this study. RESULTS: A total of 34 patients were included, with a median patient age of 17 (range, 3-19) years; 97.1% (33/34) of cases occurred after menarche. Of the patients, 82.4% had mucinous borderline tumors (MBOTs), 14.7% had serous borderline tumors (SBOTs), and 2.9% had seromucinous borderline tumor (SMBOT). The median tumor size was 20.4 (range, 8-40)cm. All patients were at International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage I and all underwent FSS: cystectomy (unilateral ovarian cystectomy, UC, 14/34, 41.2% and bilateral ovarian cystectomy, BC, 1/34, 2.9%), unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (USO; 18/34; 52.9%), or USO + contralateral ovarian cystectomy (1/34; 2.9%). The median follow-up time was 65 (range, 10-148) months. Recurrence was experienced by 10 of the 34 patients (29.4%). One patient with SBOT experienced progression to low-grade serous carcinoma after the third relapse. Two patients had a total of four pregnancies, resulting in three live births. The recurrence rate of UC was significantly higher in MBOTs than in USO (p = 0.005). The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 67.1%, and the 5-year overall survival rate was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Fertility-sparing surgery is feasible and safe for children and adolescents with BOTs. For patients with MBOTs, USO is recommended to lower the risk of recurrence.

Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Agonists Do Not Protect Ovarian Function in Patients Undergoing Stem Cell Transplants.

Introduction Medical indications for fertility preservation include any malignancy, chronic illness, or disease that would require gonadotoxic chemotherapy or radiation (conditioning regimens), which would impede a woman's ability to conceive in the future. Thus, any patient who plans to undergo a gonadotoxic regimen is advised to cryopreserve oocytes or embryos, which can be used in the future at the patient's convenience. Attempts have been made to suppress ovarian function with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH-a) to induce ovarian quiescence and, thereby, theoretically limit the gonadotoxic impact on the follicular pool. We explored the use of leuprolide (a type of GnRH-a) in preventing primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) in a cohort study of patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH); since the conditioning regimens for HSCT include cyclophosphamide and other gonadotoxic therapies, we hypothesized that GnRH-a would be ineffective in preventing POI. Methods We assessed patients who underwent fertility preservation prior to their stem cell transplant, as their follicular-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were evaluated prior to and post-chemotherapy. Twenty-nine patients who underwent hormonal evaluation prior to and post-chemotherapy were included. The control group did not receive GnRH-a prior to chemotherapy, while the treatment group did receive GnRH-a pre-chemotherapy. Results Our data revealed that 80% of the control group had menopausal levels post-chemotherapy, while 91% of the treatment group still had menopausal levels post-chemotherapy (p=0.33). Conclusions Thus, our hypothesis that GnRH-a is ineffective in reducing the risk of POI in a cohort of patients who receive conditioning regimens for HSCT was confirmed.

Fertility preservation in patients with gynecologic cancer.

In this editorial we comment on the article by Gu et al. We focus and debate the necessity of fertility sparing surgery in young women's with gynecologic cancers, specifically on those patients with the desire to conceive. This type of individualized treatment options is often very difficult, due to the risk of disease evolution and multiple disparities in fertility preservation services among women in different countries and societies. For this reason national policy interventions are mandatory in order to ensure equitable access this procedures, in women with cancer.

Case Report: Low-Risk HPV associated Verruco-Papillary squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

•Cervical cancer plays a large role in morbidity and mortality for gynecologic cancer.•Most cases are involved with high-risk HPV, rare cases of low-risk HPV associated cancer exists.•Low risk HPV associated cervical cancers have increased difficulty in diagnosis.•No distinction exists in treatment between low and high risk HPV associated cervical cancer.

Reproductive Outcomes in Young Women with Early-Stage Cervical Cancer Greater than 2 cm Undergoing Fertility-Sparing Treatment: A Systematic Review.

Background and Objectives: Despite advancements in detection and treatment, cervical cancer remains a significant health concern, particularly among young women of reproductive age. Limited data exists in the literature regarding fertility-sparing treatment (FST) of cervical cancers with tumor sizes greater than 2 cm. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the reproductive outcomes of women diagnosed with cervical cancer greater than 2 cm who underwent FST. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search of the literature was carried out on the following databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, The Cochrane Library (Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Methodology Register), the Health Technology Assessment Database, and Web of Science. Only original studies (retrospective or prospective) that reported reproductive outcomes of patients with cervical cancer >2 cm were considered eligible for inclusion in this systematic review (CRD42024521964). Studies describing only the oncologic outcomes, involving FST for cervical cancers less than 2 cm in size, and case reports were excluded. Results: Seventeen papers that met the abovementioned inclusion criteria were included in the present systematic review. In total, 443 patients with a cervical cancer larger than 2 cm were included in this systematic review. Eighty pregnancies occurred, with 24 miscarriages and 54 live births. Conclusions: FST appears to be a viable option for women of childbearing age diagnosed with cervical cancer larger than 2 cm. However, careful consideration is advised in interpreting these encouraging results, as they are subject to limitations, such as variability in study designs and potential biases. In addition, reproductive outcomes should be further cross-referenced with oncologic outcomes to clarify the potential risk-benefit ratio. It is critical to conduct further research using standardized approaches and larger participant groups to strengthen the validity of the conclusions drawn.

Borderline tumours of ovary and fertility preservation-Outcomes from a tertiary care center in India.

OBJECTIVE: Borderline ovarian tumors (BOT) are characterized by atypical epithelial proliferation without stromal invasion and majority are diagnosed in women of reproductive age group desirous of fertility preservation. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records of patients diagnosed with BOT and on regular follow up at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi, during a nine-year study period from March 2014 to March 2023 was performed. Surgical treatment was classified as radical or fertility sparing surgery (FSS). Surgical staging was defined as complete, partial or un-staged. RESULTS: Median age of 91 women was 34 years. Follow up period ranged from 4 to 222 months (median 77 months). Among 68 premenopausal women, 31 (46 %) underwent radical surgery and FSS in 37 (54 %) cases. Median time to conception in 29 women with future fertility wishes was 13 months (range, 4 to38 m). Seven of 29 cases (29 %) required ovulation induction. The pregnancy rate was 82.7 % and live birth rate was 80 %. Eight cases (8.7 %) had a recurrence (7- un-staged, 1- partially staged) and median time to recur was 36 months. There was no significant difference in recurrence between cystectomy/oophorectomy. Ovary was the site of recurrence in all surgically salvaged cases except peritoneal cavity in 1 case with mortality. Relapse free survival at 5 and 10 years in FSS and radical surgery group were similar. CONCLUSION: FSS is a safe procedure and should be considered in young patients desirous of future fertility along with a comprehensive peritoneal staging. Reproductive outcomes are excellent.