The term "micropapillary serous carcinoma" (MPSC) has recently been introdu
ced to define a subset of ovarian serous borderline turners morphologically
characterized by a micropapillary pattern and clinically associated with a
more aggressive behavior than that of the typical ovarian serous borderlin
e tumors. Ovarian MPSC's are associated with extra-ovarian invasive periton
eal implants and invasive recurrences much more frequently than typical ova
rian serous borderline tumors. The case of a women, who at age 28 had bilat
eral ovarian cystectomy and four months later total abdominal hysterectomy
and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for bilateral ovarian MPSC, is reported
. She was free of disease for the next 15 years and then presented with a c
entral pelvic mass. At laparotomy, a recurrence in the form of a solitary i
nvasive peritoneal implant was discovered and completely resected. No posto
perative adjuvant therapy was given. To date, 16 years after initial diagno
sis of MPSC, and one year after detection of recurrence, the patient is ali
ve, well and without disease. Literature data and this case report support
the view that MPSC's should be classified separately from both typical sero
us borderline tumors and invasive carcinomas of the ovary.