Objective To determine the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors that may be used to predict the poor outcome of patients with borderline ovarian tumors. Methods All cases with borderline ovarian tumors treated in the West China Second University Hospital from January 2001 to June 2007 were analyzed retrospectively for elinicopathologic features, treatment parameters and outcome of treatment. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess independent prognostic factors using the logistic regression model. Results The median age of 234 patients was 40. 1 years with a range of 14 to 80 years. There were 101 (43.2%), 94 (40.2% ) , 19 (8.1% ), 12 (5.1%) , 8 (3.4%) cases of serous, mutinous, mixed, endometrioid and clear cell tumors, respectively. Out of 234 cases, 182 (77.8%) underwent laparotomy and 45 ( 19.2% ) underwent laparoscopy. Seven women underwent laparoconversion. Fertility sparing surgery was performed on 119 cases (50.9% ) and radical surgery was performed on 115 cases (49.1% ). Totally 161 (68.8% ) patients had stage Ⅰ , 19 ( 8.1% ) had stage Ⅱ, 54 ( 23.1% ) had stage Ⅲ, and none had stage Ⅳ disease. Sixty-four women received postoperative chemotherapy. The median follow-up was 40 months with a range of 8 to 78 months. Recurrence was found in 26 cases (11.1%) during follow-up, and no tumor-related death was reported. The logistic regression model showed that surgery procedure ( OR=2.304, P=0.024), cyst rupture ( OR=2.213, P=0.038 ), stage ( OR= 4.114, P<0.01 ), microinvasion ( OR=2.291, P=0.046) and peritoneal implants ( OR=2.101, P = 0.016) were the five independent prognostic factors affecting recurrence. Conclusions Although patients with borderline ovarian tumors have an excellent prognosis, the risk of recurrence remains in some patients. Emphasis should be put on these patients with high risk factors and preventive strategies should be taken to prevent their progression.