The value of fertility-sparing surgery for young females with epithelial ovarian cancer: a comparative study

Background: Epithelial ovarian cancer is increasingly often diagnosed in young females who wish to preserve their fertility. Fertilitypreserving surgeries, where conservation of the uterus and contralateral ovary was performed, might be beneficial for patients with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer, but their safety is still controversial. In the present study, we aimed to compare radical surgery and fertility-saving surgery in females with stage IA–C epithelial ovarian cancer for recurrence and survival rates, as well as to evaluate reproductive and obstetric outcomes for stage I epithelial ovarian cancer females who were managed with fertility-saving surgery. Materials and methods: We prospectively identified 60 patients aged ≤40 years who were diagnosed with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer. The patients in the fertility-preservation group underwent salpingo-oophorectomy on the side of the affected ovary in addition to incisional biopsy or wedge excision of the ovary on the other side. The patients in the radical surgery group underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. We followed up all patients for 5 years to assess their reproductive and oncological outcomes. Results: Patients in the fertility preservation surgery group were significantly younger (30 ± 4 versus 35 ± 5 years) (p < 0.001), their tumor sizes were smaller (3.4 ± 1.3 versus 6.0 ± 2.6 cm) (p < 0.001), of lower grade (p = 0.011), earlier stage (p < 0.001) and had more mucinous histology than patients in the radical surgery group. There were no statistically significant differences between both groups regarding tumor recurrence or survival rates. Of 25 patients who underwent fertility preservation surgery, 18 (72%) attempted to conceive. A total of 15/18 (83%) pregnancies were recorded, including 13 live births, 1 miscarriage, and 1 intrauterine fetal death. Conclusion: Fertility-sparing surgery could be an adequate alternative to radical surgery for young females with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer.