Ovarian cancer accounts for 25% of all malignant neoplasms of the female genital tract. However, there are more deaths from this cancer each year in the United States of endometrial cancer and cervical cancer combined. The risk of spontaneous ovarian cancer is about 1.7%. Epithelial ovarian cancer causes 15,520 deaths expected in 2008. The mean age at diagnosis is 60. There has been a significant improvement in the survival rate five years for patients with ovarian cancer. This is probably a combination of improved tumor volume reduction surgery and chemotherapy best options.Most patients with ovarian cancer have no signs or symptoms until the disease spreads to the upper abdomen. 70% of patients present with advanced disease. The symptoms of ovarian cancer in early stage may include nonspecific pelvic discomfort, urinary frequency and constipation are caused by a pelvic mass enlargement. With advanced disease, patients experience abdominal pain, bloating, anorexia, nausea and constipation.
The best tumor marker for ovarian cancer is CA 125. lower elevations of CA 125 can also be seen in endometriosis, benign tumors, fibroids and pregnant and postpartum women. In addition, moderate increases in CA 125 can be seen in adnocarcinoma others such as breast and endometrial cancer. The sensitivity of CA 125 is 70% to 80% and a specificity of 98.6% to 99.4%. However, medium-risk population with low prevalence of ovarian cancer, the false positive may be unacceptably high.