This paper reports a retrospective multi-institutional French survey carried out in 1992 to determine the incidence of laparoscopic management of malignant ovarian cysts. Of 5307 ovarian lesions treated endoscopically, 78 were malignant (1.47%) including 60 borderline tumors and 18 ovarian cancers. In 33% of cases preoperative diagnosis indicated that the tumor was benign. Preoperative findings were suspicious in 59%. Laparoscopic treatment was puncture in 23% of cases, partial exeresis in 51% and total removal in 26%.