What tests should be done for ovarian tumors

Ovarian tumors are common gynecological tumors, accounting for about 1/3 of female genital tumors. They can occur at any age, but are more common in women of childbearing age. Although the incidence of ovarian malignant tumors ranks third among female genital malignant tumors, it is difficult to diagnose early and is often discovered in the late stage. However, its mortality rate is the highest among gynecological malignant tumors.

(1) Ultrasound examination B-ultrasound imaging can detect the location, size, shape and nature of the tumor.

(2) Radiological diagnosis: Barium meal or barium enema, air contrast radiography can be used to determine whether there is a tumor in the digestive tract. CT examination can locate and characterize pelvic tumors, and determine whether there is metastasis to the liver, lungs, and retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Pelvic lymph node radiography can determine whether there is lymphatic metastasis of ovarian tumors.

(3) Laparoscopy can directly observe the origin and general condition of the tumor, as well as the entire pelvic and abdominal cavity and diaphragm, to determine the extent and stage of the lesion. It can also aspirate ascites for cytological examination or take suspicious tissue for pathological examination. However, it is contraindicated for large masses or adhesion masses.

(4) Cytological examination: Cytological examination of ascites obtained by abdominal or posterior fornix puncture is helpful in the diagnosis of ovarian malignant tumors.

(5) Tumor marker examination: The alpha-fetoprotein (aFP) concentration is high in patients with embryonal carcinoma and endodermal sinus carcinoma. AFP greater than 20 μg/L is considered positive. β-hCG determination has diagnostic value for primary ovarian choriocarcinoma and ovarian germ cells mixed with choriocarcinoma components. Cancer antigen CA125 radioimmunoassay (CA125 greater than 65 U/ml is positive) has a high diagnostic significance for epithelial cancer. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) determination is helpful for the diagnosis of dysgerminoma.

(6) Enlarged ovaries found during laparotomy before puberty, and ovaries that can still be palpated after menopause; ovarian cystic tumors in women of childbearing age with a diameter greater than 6 cm that do not shrink or increase in size after 3 to 6 months of observation; solid tumors with a diameter greater than 4 cm; ovarian masses found in early pregnancy that do not shrink after 4 months of pregnancy are all indications for laparotomy.