Parovarian cystadenocarcinoma of low-malignant potential.

In the world's literature, only 16 patients with parovarian malignancies have been described, five of which have been of low-malignant potential. All but one of these low-malignant potential lesions have been serous tumors. This is the second low-malignant potential parovarian tumor to be described with mucinous and serous components as well as hobnail cells. These tumors occur almost exclusively in young women, yet they are so rare that no treatment plan has been developed. We propose that until more data becomes available, these low-malignant potential lesions be treated as are their ovarian counterparts with staging laparotomy and surgery which conserves reproductive functioning being appropriate for women who meet the rigid clinical and histologic criteria for a very early potentially nonaggressive tumor, and complete extirpative surgery for those who do not.