Ovarian Cancer - Diagnosis

Highlights	Diagnosis	Radiation Therapy
Introduction	Prognosis	Resources
Symptoms	Treatment	References
Causes	Surgery
Prevention	Medications

Diagnosis

Up to 95% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will survive longer than 5 years if their cancers are treated before they have spread beyond the ovaries. Unfortunately, there are no screening tests for ovarian cancer that are the equivalent to mammography for early detection of breast cancer. Therefore, only about 25% of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed at such early stages. It is possible to perform genetic screening in high-risk women, but this raises some complex issues.

Annual Gynecologic Checkup

Every woman should have a regular annual examination with her physician that includes:

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Pelvic examination. Routine exams called bimanual pelvic examinations are a reasonable precaution, although they are not perfect screening methods due to their low sensitivity. This exam can be performed two ways. In the more common method, the physician inserts two fingers into the vagina while palpating the abdomen with the other hand. The other method, called a bimanual rectovaginal exam, involves the insertion of one finger into the vagina and another into the rectum.

Either exam enables the physician to assess the size of the ovaries as well as the contour and mobility of the uterus and to feel for masses and growths. The rectovaginal exam may reveal rectal lesions that may otherwise go unnoticed and is particularly important for women over 50. A mass felt on pelvic exam often requires further evaluation by ultrasound and sometimes requires surgery to make a definitive diagnosis.

Pap smear. This test is specifically designed to detect cervical cancer. In very rare instances, however, it may reveal abnormal ovarian cells, which might indicate the presence of an ovarian cancer.

Click the icon to see an image of a pap smear.

Unfortunately, ovarian cancer rarely produces changes that are detectable during a regular checkup.

Ruling Out Benign Conditions

An estimated 290,000 women are hospitalized each year in the United States because of ovarian growths or lesions; many more women are informed of some ovarian abnormality during their annual ob/gyn check up. The vast majority of conditions are noncancerous. They include the following:

Benign functional ovarian cysts.
Abscesses and infection.
Fibroids.

Click the icon to see an image of a fibroid tumor.

Endometriosis.
Polycystic ovaries.

Click the icon to see an image of a polycystic ovary.

Ectopic pregnancies.

Click the icon to see an image of an ectopic pregnancy.

Meig's syndrome (which involves a benign ovarian growth associated with fluid buildup in the abdomen and around the lungs).
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome following fertility treatments.