How is (epithelial) ovarian cancer diagnosed and assessed?
Initial tests to diagnose ovarian cancer may include: • An examination by a doctor. He or she may feel an enlarged ovary or another suspicious abnormality. • An ultrasound scan. This is a painless test which uses sound waves to create images of structures inside your body. The probe of the scanner may be placed on your abdomen to scan the ovaries. A small probe is also commonly placed inside the vagina to scan the ovaries from this angle in order to obtain more detailed pictures. • A blood test. A sample of blood can detect a protein called CA-125. The level of CA-125 is high in more than 8 in 10 women with advanced ovarian cancer and in about half of women with early ovarian cancer. Other non-cancerous conditions can also cause a high level. This means that this test does not conclusively diagnose or rule out ovarian cancer, but it can be a helpful test. This test is also often used to monitor the effects of treatment for ovarian cancer.
