Is a pelvic mass ovarian cancer? Is it serious?

A pelvic mass does not necessarily mean ovarian cancer, but if you find such symptoms, it is very important to seek medical attention in time. A pelvic mass is a clinical manifestation that can be caused by a variety of reasons, including benign cysts, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids or infection, and ovarian cancer is just one of the possibilities. To determine the nature of the pelvic mass, it is usually necessary to consider the medical history and physical examination results in combination with more information provided by imaging examinations such as ultrasound, CT or MRI. If malignancy is suspected, blood tests may be required, such as CA-125 antigen testing, and in some cases surgical exploration or biopsy may be required to confirm the diagnosis.

Understanding the specific cause of the pelvic mass is key. If it is an ovarian cyst, common causes include functional cysts, such as corpus luteum cysts or follicular cysts, which are benign in most cases and may resolve on their own within a few months. Uterine fibroids are also a benign tumor, common in women of childbearing age. Most patients are asymptomatic, but a small number may experience menstrual irregularities or compression symptoms. Infectious lesions, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, may be accompanied by fever and lower abdominal pain. For ovarian cancer, patients generally do not have obvious symptoms in the early stages and may experience non-specific symptoms such as abdominal distension or indigestion. Early imaging findings and tumor marker testing can assist in early diagnosis.

Understanding the specific cause of the pelvic mass is key. If it is an ovarian cyst, common causes include functional cysts, such as corpus luteum cysts or follicular cysts, which are benign in most cases and may resolve on their own within a few months. Uterine fibroids are also a benign tumor, common in women of childbearing age. Most patients are asymptomatic, but a small number may experience menstrual irregularities or compression symptoms. Infectious lesions, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, may be accompanied by fever and lower abdominal pain. For ovarian cancer, patients generally do not have obvious symptoms in the early stages and may experience non-specific symptoms such as abdominal distension or indigestion. Early imaging findings and tumor marker testing can assist in early diagnosis.

Once diagnosed, different situations are treated differently. For benign pelvic masses, your doctor may choose to observe or use medications, such as oral contraceptives to help shrink functional cysts. For masses that affect quality of life or undergo degeneration, surgical treatment, such as laparoscopic resection, is recommended. If ovarian cancer is confirmed, treatment measures usually include surgical removal of cancerous tissue combined with systemic treatment with chemotherapy drugs such as paclitaxel and carboplatin. Regular follow-up and monitoring are key to preventing recurrence after treatment. When facing pelvic masses, early diagnosis and reasonable treatment are key, and it is recommended to conduct a comprehensive examination and treatment under the guidance of a professional doctor.