5 Ways to Diagnose Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is a common malignant tumor of the female reproductive organs, and its incidence has been increasing in recent years. In addition, due to the special location of the ovaries, which are deep in the abdomen. It is often discover in the late stage, and the cancer cells have spread to other organs in the abdomen, making it difficult to cure.
About 20% of ovarian cancers are discover in the early stages. If early ovarian cancer has not metastasized, the patient’s 5-year survival rate after diagnosis can be as high as 94%. So, what are the diagnostic methods for ovarian cancer?
▲Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS)
TVUS uses ultrasound echoes to transmit imaging images and can help identify potential growths on the ovaries and determine if they are solid growths or cysts (cysts are noncancerous, fluid-filled sacs). If a solid mass is found, your doctor may order a biopsy to determine whether the mass is benign or malignant.
Ultrasound is fast, economical, non-invasive, and repeatable, and is the preferred examination method. However, the morphology, internal structure, and relationship with surrounding tissues of smaller ovarian masses are often unclear, and it is difficult to detect solid tumors with a diameter of less than 1 cm.
▲ CA-125 blood test
The CA-125 blood test measures the amount of CA-125 protein in the blood. Many women with ovarian cancer have elevated levels of CA-125 in their blood.
Not every ovarian cancer patient has elevated CA-125 levels in their blood. According to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (OCRFA), approximately 80% of patients with advanced ovarian cancer have elevated CA-125 levels, while 50% of patients have elevated CA-125 levels in the early stages of the disease. In addition, patients with other diseases such as pelvic inflammatory disease and endometriosis may also have elevated CA-125 levels in their blood.
▲ Computed tomography
CT scans use special x-rays to scan the abdomen. The results are process by a computer to create cross-sectional images that allow doctors to see various parts of the abdominal cavity and pelvis. CT examinations can locate and characterize pelvic tumors and determine whether there is metastasis to the liver, lungs, and retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Pelvic lymph node angiography can determine whether ovarian tumors have metastasized to the lymph nodes.
However, there is no significant difference in the CT appearance of primary ovarian tumors and metastatic tumors.
▲ Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
MRI has high soft tissue resolution, can be image in multiple planes, and is non-invasive. It is very advantageous in observing the depth of endometrial lesions invading the myometrium and the boundary between cervical tumors and the bladder or rectum, and plays an important role in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pelvic lesions of ovarian cancer.
However, the cost of MRI is higher than that of CT, and patients with intrauterine devices must wait until they have them removed before undergoing MRI.
▲ Histopathological examination
Cytological examination of ascites extracted by abdominal or posterior fornix puncture is helpful for the diagnosis of ovarian malignancy. The biopsy result is an important factor in the final diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
▲Diagnosing ovarian cancer, how to choose among various examination methods?
Histopathology is still the gold standard for diagnosis. Various imaging and histological examination methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, and should be use in combination to maximize their strengths and minimize their weaknesses.
Clinicians need to understand that imaging is only part of the diagnostic toolkit. Diagnosis of disease must be based on medical history, gynecological examination, laboratory tests, etc. A comprehensive assessment is need to give patients the best treatment strategy.
Because the symptoms of ovarian cancer are similar to those of many other diseases, it’s easy for patients to ignore them. Plus, the ovaries are located deep in the abdomen, making it difficult even for doctors to detect tiny growths on the organs.
Therefore, those with a family history of breast, ovarian, uterine, or colon cancer should consult a doctor promptly if they experience any unexplained severe pelvic or abdominal symptoms that last for more than 2 weeks.
