OBJECTIVES: To assess the recurrence rate and quality of life (QOL) in women with a history of borderline ovarian tumours (BOTs) based on the type of surgery (conservative vs non-conservative) in Spain. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 85 women treated for BOTs between 2007 and 2023 at two hospitals. QOL questionnaires were administered face-to-face to eligible patients. Individuals with dementia, living in an institution, or residing outside the region were excluded from this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: General characteristics and the recurrence rate were analysed retrospectively. Three validated questionnaires - European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core QOL questionnaire for patients with cancer (QLQ-C30), EORTC QOL questionnaire for patients with ovarian cancer (QLQ-OV28) and Menopause Rating Scale II (MRS II) - were used to assess QOL in eligible patients. RESULTS: The recurrence rate was low (5.9 %) and the disease-specific overall survival rate was high with only two (2.4 %) deaths. International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage III disease [odds ratio (OR) 58.5, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 6.02-568.53
p <
0.0001] and positive peritoneal cytology (OR 26, 95 % CI 2.68-252.68
p = 0.005] were associated with recurrence. No association was found between the type of surgery (conservative vs non-conservative) and QOL. Older age was associated with poorer sexual function scores on QLQ-OV28. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the need for careful evaluation of each case. The current evidence does not recommend conservative surgery to improve QOL.