{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,3]],"date-time":"2026-09-03T05:16:39Z","timestamp":1788412599973,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787875200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Curr. Oncol.","Current Oncology"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) represent a distinct group of rare epithelial ovarian neoplasms with excellent prognosis, but persistent uncertainty in patient understanding and clinical management. This study evaluated disease awareness, perceptions, and treatment patterns among affected women in Germany. Methods: The national multicenter Expression VIII survey was conducted across 34 centers by the North-Eastern German Society of Gynecologic Oncology (NOGGO). Using a standardized 46-item questionnaire, 286 patients with BOTs provided data on symptoms, treatment, fertility, follow-up, and illness perception. Descriptive analyses were performed. Results: Most participants (mean age 51 years) underwent surgery (94%), while systemic therapy was infrequent (chemotherapy 9%, bevacizumab 4%). Fertility-sparing surgery was performed in 14% overall, corresponding to 71% of those desiring future childbearing. Although 81% identified their physician as their main information source and rated information quality highly (mean 8.6\/10), 29% believed they had ovarian cancer and 64% were unaware of their tumor stage. Nearly all patients (97%) received regular follow-up, though 18% were uncertain about the procedures performed. Disease severity was rated moderately high (mean 5.4\/10), and recurrence risk and mortality were often overestimated. Conclusions: Despite good overall physician communication, substantial misconceptions persist among patients with BOTs, including the mistaken belief that they have been diagnosed with cancer, suggesting a need for clearer, structured education about its favorable prognosis and management of the disease. Improved guideline adherence and treatment centralization in specialized centers may reduce overtreatment and optimize fertility-preserving approaches.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/curroncol33090516","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,31]],"date-time":"2026-08-31T05:55:56Z","timestamp":1788155756000},"page":"516","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Expression VIII: Final Results of the Individual Perception and Level of Information of Patients with Borderline Tumors of the Ovary"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"33","author":[{"given":"Sara","family":"Alavi-Demirci","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Charit\u00e9\u2013University Medical Center Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Department of Gynecology, European Competence Center for Ovarian Cancer, 13353 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"North-Eastern German Society of Gynecological Oncology (NOGGO e.V.), 13359 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Laura N.","family":"Beckmann","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Charit\u00e9\u2013University Medical Center Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Department of Gynecology, European Competence Center for Ovarian Cancer, 13353 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8617-5535","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hannah","family":"Woopen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Charit\u00e9\u2013University Medical Center Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Department of Gynecology, European Competence Center for Ovarian Cancer, 13353 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"North-Eastern German Society of Gynecological Oncology (NOGGO e.V.), 13359 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Clemens","family":"Liebrich","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Klinikum Wolfsburg, 38440 Wolfsburg, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yasemine","family":"Virk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"North-Eastern German Society of Gynecological Oncology (NOGGO e.V.), 13359 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pauline","family":"Wimberger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universit\u00e4t Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Karol","family":"Kubiak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, St. Franziskus Hospital M\u00fcnster, 48145 M\u00fcnster, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anette","family":"Ligl-L\u00f6hner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Diakonissen-Stiftungs-Krankenhaus Speyer, 67346 Speyer, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hans-Martin","family":"Enzinger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gynecology, Frauenklinik am Klinikum am Bruderwald, Sozialstiftung Bamberg, 96049 Bamberg, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vera","family":"Czolk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Br\u00fcderklinikum Julia Lanz, 68163 Mannheim, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Georg","family":"Kunz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, St. Johannes Hospital Dortmund, 44137 Dortmund, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mandy","family":"Mangler","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Auguste-Viktora-Krankenhaus Vivantes, 12157 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tilmann","family":"Lantzsch","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gynecology, Hospital St. Elisabeth and St. Barbara, 06110 Halle (Saale), Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alexander","family":"Mustea","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gynaecology and Gynaecological Oncology, University Medical Center Bonn (UKB), 53127 Bonn, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Susanne","family":"Fechner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"German Ovarian Cancer Foundation, 13359 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aline","family":"Burdack","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sana-Clinics Berlin Lichtenberg, 10365 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"J\u00fcrgen","family":"Terhaag","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Rottal Inn Kliniken, 84307 Eggenfelden, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dorothea","family":"Fischer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ernst von Bergmann Clinic, 14467 Potsdam, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cornelia","family":"M\u00fcller","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, University Clinic Brandenburg, 14770 Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5963-6623","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jalid","family":"Sehouli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Charit\u00e9\u2013University Medical Center Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universit\u00e4t Berlin and Humboldt-Universit\u00e4t zu Berlin, Department of Gynecology, European Competence Center for Ovarian Cancer, 13353 Berlin, Germany"},{"name":"North-Eastern German Society of Gynecological Oncology (NOGGO e.V.), 13359 Berlin, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1515","DOI":"10.1634\/theoncologist.2012-0139","article-title":"Diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of borderline ovarian 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