Is It Ovarian Cancer?
Q: I have had two abdominal ultrasounds in
the last six months. They have both detected calcium in and around my
right ovary. My gynecologist has drawn blood and I am awaiting the results
of a CA-125 test. In the meantime, I would like to know what these
detections may mean. My doctor mentioned ovarian cancer and I freaked out. I cried, then I
began to do some research. I am finding out that someone like me is at low
risk: black, 30 years old, one pregnancy (terminated), 5 foot 5 inches,
190 pounds, on birth control pills, non-smoker, eating little red meat or
pork. Got any words of wisdom?
A: An ultrasound cannot definitively diagnose "calcium in or around"
any structure. That's just an interpretation by the person reading the
sonogram. What may appear as high-density echoes, or bright spots on the
sonogram, could be due to something entirely different than ovarian
cancer.
If you were
postmenopausal, the most likely diagnosis would be a malignancy. But at 30
years of age, the most likely diagnosis is benign cystic teratoma of the
ovary -- a dermoid cyst filled with fatty material and cartilage -- not
ovarian cancer. Those bright spots around your ovary are more likely due
to the presence of teeth or bone in a dermoid cyst than calcifications
associated with cancer. The fact that the finding is on one side rather
than on both sides also argues against a
malignancy.
Still, it's very
difficult to render an opinion without knowing if the ovary is enlarged or
painful when it's examined. CA-125, a protein found in the blood, can be
associated with cancers from a number of sites, including ovary, uterine
line, fallopian tubes, pancreas, breast, lung or colon. In postmenopausal
patients, markedly elevated levels of CA-125 can determine benign from
malignant disease with 96 percent accuracy, and surgery is often
warranted. So, while surgery may be necessary in your case, at your age
the likelihood of the ovary being malignant is remote.
