Risk-adapted management of early-stage malignant Brenner tumor: eight-year outcomes and contemporary evidence review—a case report

BACKGROUND: Malignant Brenner tumor (MBT) is a rare ovarian neoplasm with unpredictable behavior, posing significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Current management advocates for risk-adapted strategies, though long-term outcome data supporting this approach are scarce. CASE PRESENTATION: A 54‑year‑old postmenopausal Black African woman presented for cervical cancer screening, during which a right ovarian mass was incidentally found. Subsequent surgical staging and histopathology confirmed a FIGO stage IC2 malignant Brenner tumor with an elevated Ki-67 index. A multidisciplinary team implemented a risk-adapted strategy comprising radical surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy. Treatment was well-tolerated, with only grade 1 peripheral neuropathy reported. At the eight-year follow-up, the patient remains in complete remission, with normal imaging and tumor markers. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates the potential efficacy of risk-adapted management in early-stage malignant Brenner tumor, supporting contemporary paradigms that prioritize individualized risk assessment. The exceptional long-term outcome adds to the evidence for selective treatment modulation in appropriately stratified patients.