investigations
Last reviewed 01/2018
- routine haematologic and biochemical studies
- abdominal radiograph - calcifications in a younger patient may be due to a benign cystic teratoma, the most common neoplasm in patients under 25 years
- barium enema - to rule out ovarian metastases from a primary colonic cancer in older patients
- breast mammography - in patients with suspicious breast lumps to eliminate breast metastases
- pelvic ultrasonography, especially transvaginally - more effective than CT as provides information which is predictive of cancer. Unilocular cystic masses are generally, benign cysts; predominantly solid or multilocular masses are likely to be neoplastic
- serum tumour markers - CA-125 is elevated in 80% of patients with advanced ovarian cancer. But this marker may also be elevated other cancers and non-malignant conditions (see menu).
- endometrial biopsy - if abnormal vaginal bleeding - to exclude concurrent primary endometrial and ovarian tumours