SERUM CA-125 VERSUS ULTRASOUND EXAMINATION IN DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN BENIGN AND MALIGNANT OVARIAN MASSES

Abstract

Objective: To differentiate between benign and malignant ovarian masses by using serum CA125 versus
ultrasound examination.
Methodology: This descriptive study was conducted at Department of Obstetrics and Gyneecology,
Hayatabad Medical Complex from 1st January 2010 to 31st December 2010. Women fulfilling inclusion
criteria were admitted. They underwent transabdominal gray-scale ultrasound examinations by an
experienced examiner before surgery. Pattern recognition was used to classify a mass as benign or
malignant. These women also had blood withdrawn preoperatively for measurement of serum CA-125 with
cut off value of < 35 IU as normal. Results from both radiological finding and serum CA125 were then
compared with histopathological findings which was used as gold standard.
Results: Pattern recognition by ultrasound correctly classified 69.64% of the tumors as benign or
malignant. Serum CA-125 correctly classified at best 74.14% of the masses. Combining both parameters
the diagnostic accuracy increased to 86.75% with sensitivity 80.36%, specificity 100%, positive predictive
value 100% and negative predictive value of 71.05%.
Conclusion: Pattern recognition alone was inferior to serum CA-125. Combining both parameters for
differentiating between benign and malignant ovarian masses further increased the diagnostic accuracy.