Ovarian Cysts & Cancers Flashcards
DD for pelvic mass (16)
Pregnancy, bladder tumours, bladder distension, uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, carcinosarcomas, leiomyosarcoma, cervical cancer, ovarian mass, tubal mass, bowel tumours, appendiceal mass, hernias, diverticular abscess, pelvic kidney and ascitis
DD for tubal mass causing pelvic mass (3)
Hydrosaplinx, ectopic pregnancy or tuboovarian abscess
Ovarian masses can be caused by surface epithelium-stroma, germ cells or sex cord-stroma. The most common tumour comes from which cell type?
Surface epithelium-stroma
What are 5 types of surface epithelium-stroma cell tumours?
Serous, mucinous, endometrioid, clear cell, transitional cell
What are 5 tumours of germ cell origin?
Dysgermimoma, yolk sac, embryonal carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, teratoma
What are 6 tumours of sex cord-stroma origin?
Granulosa cell, thecoma, fibroma, sertoli cell, sertoli-leydig, steroid
What are 5 main investigations in abdo mass?
Urine HCG, Blood test for tumour markers, USS, MRI for premenopausal and CT for postmenopausal
What is CA-125 and why is it not always indicative of cancer as a tumour marker?
Glycoprotein that is elevated in patient with ovarian cancer. CA-125 is produced by mesothelial cells which also line the peritoneum, pericardium and pleural surface so CA-125 can be elevated in both benign/malignant ovarian/non-ovarian diseases
3 physiological conditions in which CA-125 is elevated
Ovulation, pregnancy and retrograde menstruation
When is CEA elevated?
CEA elevated in mucinous cancers, particularly of ovary or GI tract but also in other benign and malignant conditions
_____ may be elevated in breast, pancreatic, thyroid and lung malignancies
CEA
_______ be elevated in smoking, mucinous cystadenoma of ovary, cholecystitis, liver cirrhosis, diverticulitis, IBD, pancreatitis, pulmonary infections
CEA
_______ may be elevated in endometriosis, benign ovarian cysts, fibroids
CA-125
_______ may be elevated in non-ovarian malignant conditions e.g. malignant ascites, disseminated malignancies from pleural/peritoneal surfaces
CA-125
______ may be elevated in other non-malignant disease e.g. autoimmune disease, sarcoidosis, colitis, diverticulitis, chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis, pericarditis, pancreatitis, renal disease
CA-125
What does the ratio CA125/CEA <25 make you suspect in the case of ovarian mass?
That ovarian mass is metastatic in nature because if ovarian cancer then CA125 would be higher
Alpha foeto-protein, HCG and LDH are tumour markers used in women <40 yrs. Alpha foeto-protein is raised in ___________ ____________, HCG is raised in _____________ and LDH is raised in _____________.
Alpha foeto-protein: embryonal carcinoma, HCG: choriocarcinoma, LDH: dysgerminoma
What are 5 features that point towards a benign ovarian cyst?
Unilocular, presence of solid component but <7mm, presence of acoustic shadows, multilocular but smooth, no blood flow
What are 5 features that indicate malignancy on ultrasound of ovarian cyst?
Irregular solid tumour, presence of ascites, at least 4 papillary structure, irregular multilocular-solid tumour, very strong blood flow
What are the 3 criteria in Risk of Malignancy Index (RMI)?
Menopausal status, ultrasonic feature, serum Ca125
Scoring system for RMI is (A) 1 for premenopausal, 3 for postmenopausal, (B) 0 for no USS feature, 1 for 1 feature and 3 for >1 feature and (C) absolute level of CA-125. How are these scores calculated?
A X B X C
RMI <30 = ___ in 100 OC?
RMI 30-200 = ___ in 100 OC?
RMI >200 = ___ in 100 OC?
RMI <30 = 3 in 100 OC
RMI 30-200 = 20 in 100 OC
RMI >200 = 75 in 100 OC
What is the use of further CT in ovarian cyst?
To assess spread of cancer and operability
What is the use of further MRI in ovarian cyst?
To characterise the ovarian cyst in a better way
What are the most common benign ovarian cysts? (3)
Functional ovarian cysts, endometriotic cysts and dermoid cysts
What are functional cysts related to?
Related to ovulation
Functional cysts are rarely >5cm in diameter & usually resolve spontaneously. However they may cause menstrual disturbance. True/false?
True
When would there be intervention for a funcitonal cyst?
When they are very big and causing a complication e.g. haemorrhage, rupture, acute torsion of ovary
How do endometriotic cysts present?
Severe dysmenorrhea/premenstrual pain, dyspareunia, associated with sub fertility, occasionally asymptomatic, acute abdomen if ruptures
O/E what do you find with endometriotic cysts?
Tender mass with modularity and tenderness behind uterus (because ovaries often join together in pouch of douglas behind uterus)
Ovaries have totipotential stem cells. What tissues may be found in dermoid cyst? AKA teratoma
Teeth, sebaceous material, hair, thyroid tissue (thyrotoxicosis)
Dermoid cysts are usually asymptomatic. When they are symptomatic how might they present?
Pelvic pain and dyspareunia
What are 3 factors to consider when treating benign ovarian cysts?
Symptoms, fertility & menopausal status
What are medical treatment options for treatment of benign ovarian tumours
GnRH analogues or oral contraceptives