Early Detection of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer in Women at Average Risk Flashcards
Ovarian cancer is the second most common type of female reproductive cancer, and more women die from ovarian cancer than from cervical cancer and uterine cancer combined. Currently, there is no strategy for early detection of ovarian cancer that reduces ovarian cancer mortality. Taking a detailed personal and family history for breast, gynecologic, and colon cancer facilitates categorizing women based on their risk (average risk or high risk) of developing epithelial ovarian cancer.
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Women with a strong family history of ovarian, breast, or colon cancer may have hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (BRCA mutation) or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome), and these women are at increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. Women with these conditions should be referred for formal genetic counseling to better assess their cancer risk, including their risk of ovarian cancer.
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Epithelial ovarian cancer is most commonly detected in an advanced stage (65% of cases are stage III or stage IV) when the cure rate is only 18%.
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Taking a detailed personal and family history for breast, gynecologic, and colon cancer facilitates categorizing women based on their risk (average risk or high risk) of developing epithelial ovarian cancer.
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Ovarian cancer is the second most common type of female reproductive cancer, and more women die from ovarian cancer than from cervical cancer and uterine cancer combined.
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The serum tumor marker CA 125 is the most extensively evaluated serum marker for the early detection of ovarian cancer. Initial studies showed that CA 125 levels were elevated in approximately 80% of women with epithelial ovarian cancer (8). However, subsequent studies have demonstrated that fixed CA 125 cutoff values for early-stage cancer detection have poor sensitivity and specificity
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A case–control study demonstrated that women with more than 12 days per month of new onset (less than 12 months’ duration) symptoms, including an increase in abdominal size or bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, or difficulty eating or feeling full quickly had increased odds of having ovarian cancer compared with women without these symptoms (22). The study suggested that women with these symptoms should be evaluated, and ovarian cancer should be included in the differential diagnosis.
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