title: Conservative treatment of early stage ovarian cancer: oncological and fertility outcomes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ovarian cancer may appear in young women during their reproductive age. As a result of late childbearing nowadays, fertility preservation has become a major issue in young women with gynecological cancer. The aim of this review is to update the current knowledge on conservative treatment and fertility preservation of women affected of early stage epithelial ovarian cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A web-based search in Medline and CancerLit databases on conservative treatment for early stage ovarian cancer has been carried out. All relevant information has been collected and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Less than 40% of ovarian cancers are diagnosed at early stages. Conservative treatment may be considered in young patients with a relapse rate that ranges from 9% to 29%, and a 5-year survival ranging from 83% to 100%. Recurrences in the controlateral ovary has been reported to be less than 5%, with most of these patients being alive after savage treatments. Moreover, it has been reported good fertility outcomes after conservative treatment with a successful conception rate that ranges from 60% to 100%, with an abortion rate under 30% in all series reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Conservative treatment for early epithelial ovarian cancers could be a safe option for women younger than 40 years who wish to preserve their childbearing potential. We need a strict case selection such as FIGO stage I grade 1 and 2, although grade 3 cases could be considered.
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Oncology Unit, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: ignaciozapardiel@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zapardiel
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Oncology Unit, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Diestro
authors.affiliation: Gynecology Department, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aletti
mesh_terms: D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D005260:Female; D059247:Fertility Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000628:therapy; D059351:Organ Sparing Treatments / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D018579:Patient Selection
keywords: Clinical management; Conservative treatment; Early stage; Fertility sparing surgery; Ovarian cancer