Serous borderline tumor with micropapillary pattern of the right ovary that developed 6 recurrences over 30 years after primary surgery

Serous borderline tumors (SBTs) are nonaggressive and have excellent prognosis. Furthermore, SBTs with micropapillary pattern (SBT-MP) are known to be associated with a higher recurrence rate, microinvasions and invasive implants compared to typical SBTs, and these characteristics have adverse effects on prognosis. Here, we report a case of SBT with micropapillary pattern (SBT-MP) that developed 6 recurrences over 30 years after primary surgery. The patient was a 70 year-old woman. At 41 years of the age she underwent total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, partial omentectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy and was found to have an SBT-MP involving the right ovary (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2014, stage IC2). She was administered chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, adriamicin, and cisplatin). She repeatedly developed recurrences 6 times after primary surgery. A left inguinal recurrence at age 55, a right inguinal recurrence at age 56, a right inguinal recurrence at age 64, an umbilical recurrence at age 65, a right inguinal recurrence at age 68 and left axillary recurrence at age 70. Histopathological examinations revealed that all recurrences were SBT-MP with noninvasive implants. Our case strongly justifies the belief that recurrent SBTs carry an excellent prognosis unless they develop significant malignant transformation.