Ovarian Cancer - Prevention

(Page 3)

• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Noncancerous ovarian cysts
• Pregnancy
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Liver diseases
• Heart failure
• Other tumors, such as breast, colon, lung, and pancreatic cancers
• Age and menstrual status can also affect the levels of CA-125

OVA1 Blood Test. In 2009, the FDA approved the OVA1 blood test, which is used to help predict whether ovarian cancer is more likely to be present in a pelvic mass. The OVA1 test measures the level of CA-125 and four other proteins. The test can help doctors decide what type of surgery should be performed. The OVA1 test is used in addition to, not in place of, other diagnostic and clinical procedures. It is not used to screen for or provide a definite diagnosis of ovarian cancer, but can help doctors to determine that a malignancy is more likely to be present.

---

---

Exploratory Surgery

An exploratory surgical procedure is required to confirm a diagnosis of ovarian cancer. It is also necessary to properly stage a patient, since the imaging tests may miss small implants of ovarian tumor within the pelvis and the abdominal cavity. Surgery may be laparotomy or a less-invasive laparoscopy. A gynecologic oncologist usually performs these procedures.

Laparotomy is an open-surgery procedure that requires general anesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision from the pubic bone to the navel to explore the abdominal cavity. Laparoscopy does not require general anesthesia and the oncologist uses only small incisions to insert a lighted instrument to examine the organs and evaluate the spread of the tumor. With both procedures, tissue samples (biopsies) can be removed for further testing.

Click the icon to see an image of pelvic laparoscopy.

Review Date: 11/04/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).