Ovarian Cancer

Diagnosis

Occasionally, a doctor may find signs of early stage ovarian cancer, such as a firm, enlarged ovary when abnormal cells are confined to the ovary. A pelvic ultrasound may help diagnose the disease at an early stage. However, the ovaries often appear normal during early stages of ovarian cancer.

Blood tests can help to confirm ovarian cancer by identifying high blood levels of CA-125, a protein commonly found in elevated levels in women who have ovarian cancer. The usefulness of this test is limited, however, because CA-125 can be elevated in many conditions that are not cancerous. Besides an ultrasound, a computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) also can be used to identify misshapen or enlarged ovaries and other features that may point to or strongly suggest the presence of cancerous changes. The only way to be certain that cancer is present is to obtain a sample of ovarian tissue and have it examined for cancerous changes.