Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
If ovarian cancer is suspected, the physician typically begins the diagnosis by taking
a complete medical history to assess all the risk factors. A thorough pelvic examination
is conducted. Blood tests to determine the level of a particular blood protein, CA125, may be ordered. This protein is usually elevated when a woman
has ovarian cancer. However, it is not a definitive test because the levels may also rise
in other gynecologic conditions, such as endometriosis and ectopic pregnancies. Ultrasound
may be used to check the size of the ovaries.
Procedures to determine Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
In order to determine if the tumor is benign
or cancerous, surgery is necessary. If the tumor appears to be small from the imaging
tests, then a procedure known as laparoscopy
may be used. A tiny incision is made in the abdomen and a slender, hollow, lighted
instrument is inserted through it. This enables the doctor to view the ovary more closely
and to obtain a piece of tissue for microscopic examination. If the tumor appears large, a laparotomy is performed under general anesthesia. This
procedure combines both diagnosis and treatment for ovarian cancer, because the tumor is
often completely removed during the procedure. A piece of the tissue that is removed will
be microscopically examined to determine whether the tumor was benign or malignant.
Surgery confirms the diagnosis, but ovarian cancer is often strongly suspected prior to
surgery based on symptoms and ultrasound. The goal of surgery is to completely remove the
cancer, but often this is not possible.
Imaging test used in Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
Standard imaging techniques such as computed tomography scans (CT scans) and magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to determine if the disease has spread to other parts
of the body. |