Aggressive behavior of stage I ovarian mucinous tumors lacking extensive infiltrative invasion: a report of four cases and review of the literature.

Previous studies have indicated that mucinous carcinomas of the ovary associated with extraovarian spread at the time of presentation or follow-up almost always have extensive infiltrative invasion within the primary tumor. We present four cases of stage I ovarian mucinous tumors that lacked extensive infiltrative invasion but were associated with an unexpectedly aggressive behavior. The patients were 18, 20, 41, and 45 years of age at presentation.