How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?

Written by Zhou Chen
Oncology
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Early screening for ovarian cancer allows for about 20% of cases to be diagnosed in their early stages. Detection generally follows these procedures: 1. Routine gynecological health check-ups. 2. Visiting a hospital due to certain symptoms. 3. Ovarian cancer screening. Common methods include transvaginal ultrasound and serum CA125 testing. Additional tests include tumor marker CA125 and checks for AFP, CA19-9, and CEA. Ultrasonography (B-ultrasound) can preliminarily determine the tumor size, shape, solidity, location, and its relation to surrounding organs. CT scans and MRI can further clarify the tumor's nature and the extent of invasion into the abdominal and pelvic organs. If necessary, gastroscopy can be performed to rule out primary gastrointestinal tumors, and if economic conditions allow, a PADCT scan can also be conducted.

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Written by Yan Chun
Oncology
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What are the symptoms and early signs of ovarian cancer?

The symptoms and early signs of ovarian cancer mainly include the following aspects. Patients may experience persistent lower abdominal pain for no apparent reason, and some patients may experience radiating pain in the vulvar area, while others may show early clinical signs of abdominal bloating. The symptoms and early signs of ovarian cancer are not very numerous. Some patients may exhibit menstrual irregularities, such as increased or decreased menstruation, prolonged periods, or irregular vaginal bleeding. A few patients may experience abnormal vaginal discharge, which can be mixed with an unusual odor and a small amount of blood.

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Written by Liu Liang
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How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?

Ultrasound or CT scans detecting ovarian masses, in combination with biopsy or cytological examination that identify cancer cells, can diagnose ovarian cancer. A common method of biopsy includes ultrasound-guided procedures or transvaginal cul-de-sac puncture biopsy of ovarian masses, enabling clear pathological confirmation. Additionally, exploratory laparotomy or early radical surgery for ovarian cancer patients can yield a postoperative pathological diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Moreover, the presence of ascites is a common symptom in ovarian cancer patients; finding cancer cells, especially adenocarcinoma, in ascites, coupled with significantly elevated tumor marker CA125, or ultrasound or CT imagery revealing ovarian masses, can also diagnose ovarian cancer.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Can ovarian cancer be cured?

Whether ovarian cancer can be cured depends on the clinical stage of the patient, as well as the patient's sensitivity to treatment, among other factors. If it is a case of early-stage ovarian cancer, curative surgery can be performed. After surgery, based on the pathology, it can be decided whether postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy is necessary. Patients with early-stage ovarian cancer who undergo surgery or postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy may have hope for a cure. However, if the cancer is discovered at a late stage where it has spread extensively, such as widespread metastasis to the pelvic area, or even to distant organs like the lungs or liver, then the treatment for these patients is primarily chemotherapy. A cure is not achievable; the treatment aims to alleviate symptoms and prolong the patient's life. Thus, for patients with late-stage ovarian cancer, treatment cannot achieve a curative purpose.

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Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
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Is ovarian cancer hereditary?

The onset of ovarian cancer may be somewhat related to family history or genetic factors. Therefore, patients with a family history of ovarian cancer may have a higher risk of developing the disease compared to the general population. However, this doesn't mean that a patient with ovarian cancer will definitely pass the condition to their offspring; it merely indicates a certain level of heredity. Furthermore, for those with a family history of breast cancer, colon cancer, and endometrial cancer, it is crucial for their descendants to undergo enhanced screenings for ovarian cancer and these diseases, as their risk of developing these conditions may be higher than that of the average person.

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Written by Liu Liang
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How is ovarian cancer diagnosed?

Ovarian cancer is discovered through transvaginal ultrasound of the adnexa uteri revealing ovarian tumors, or through imaging studies such as abdominal CT scans or MRIs showing ovarian tumors, combined with tumor markers, particularly the ovarian epithelial cancer tumor marker CA125, which will be significantly elevated. Generally, with these findings, ovarian cancer can typically be clinically diagnosed. Confirmation, however, requires pathological diagnosis, which involves obtaining a biopsy of the tumor. This can be done through a puncture biopsy or through pathological examination after surgical excision to confirm ovarian cancer. Additionally, some patients with ovarian cancer present with substantial ascites at the time of discovery. If cancer cells are found in the abdominal fluid, combined with a significant increase in CA125 and imaging studies showing ovarian tumors, ovarian cancer can also be diagnosed.