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      Drugs & Diseases > Oncology

      Ovarian Cancer Differential Diagnoses

      Updated: Nov 17, 2022
      • Author: Andrew E Green, MD; Chief Editor: Yukio Sonoda, MD  more...
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      DDx

      Diagnostic Considerations

      Ovarian cysts

      An ovarian cyst is a fluid-filled sac in an ovary. Ovarian cysts can develop from the neonatal period to postmenopause but most occur during infancy and adolescence, which are hormonally active periods of development. With the more frequent use of ultrasonography in recent years, the diagnosis of ovarian cysts has become more common.

      The normally functioning ovary produces a follicular cyst six to seven times each year. In most cases, these functional masses are self-limiting and resolve within the duration of a normal menstrual cycle. In rare situations, they persist longer or become enlarged. At this point, they represent a pathological condition.

      For more information, see Ovarian Cysts.

      Evaluation of adnexal masses

      Adnexal masses present a diagnostic dilemma; the differential diagnosis is extensive, with most masses representing benign processes. [39, 40, 41] However, without histopathologic tissue diagnosis, a definitive diagnosis is generally precluded. Physicians must evaluate the likelihood of a pathologic process using clinical and radiologic information and balance the risk of surgical intervention for a benign versus malignant process.

      Since ovaries produce physiologic cysts in menstruating women, the likelihood of a benign process is higher. In contrast, the presence of an adnexal mass in prepubertal girls and postmenopausal women heightens the risk of a pathologic etiology.

      A review by Suh-Burgmann and Kinney suggests that surgical evaluation of adnexal masses is appropriate in the following circumstances [41] :

      • Symptomatic masses
      • Masses associated with other signs of malignancy (eg, elevated cancer antigen 125 [CA125] levels in a postmenopausal patient, ascites)
      • Women at high genetic risk for ovarian cancer
      • Large masses (>10 cm), which are less likely to regress, have a higher risk of symptoms, and are often more difficult to characterize on ultrasound

      Ultrasound features associated with malignancy include the following [41] :

      • Irregular solid tumor
      • Ascites
      • At least four papillary projections
      • Irregular multilocular solid tumor ≥10 cm
      • Very strong intratumoral blood flow

      These authors note that measurable benefits of monitoring are realized within the first year of observation. If an adnexal mass is small, lacks suspicious ultrasound features, and remains stable, the likelihood of malignancy and therefore, the potential benefit of observation wanes with time, while potential harms increase. [40]

      A systematic review concluded that pelvic magnetic resonance Imaging (MRI) with contrast is the preferred advanced second imaging test for assessment of ultrasound-indeterminate adnexal masses. In particular, the high specificity of MRI in this setting provides confident identification of many benign lesions. [42]

      A study of a second-generation multivariate index assay designed to improve the detection of ovarian cancer in women undergoing surgery for a pelvic mass found that a single cut-off separated high and low risk of malignancy regardless of patient menopausal status, with a specificity of 69% and positive predictive value of 40%. The assay includes five markers: CA125, apolipoprotein A-1, follicle-stimulating hormone, and human epididymis protein 4. [43]

      For more information, see Adnexal Tumors.

      Other problems

      Other problems to be considered in the differential diagnosis of ovarian cancer include the following:

      • Appendiceal tumors
      • Benign lesions of the uterine corpus
      • Bladder distention/urinary retention
      • Bowel/omental adhesions
      • Colon cancer
      • Embryologic remnants
      • Fecal impaction
      • Gastric adenocarcinoma
      • Hydrosalpinx/pyosalpinx
      • Low-lying cecum
      • Metastatic gastrointestinal carcinoma
      • Ovarian torsion
      • Pelvic abscess
      • Pelvic kidney
      • Peritoneal cyst
      • Retroperitoneal mass
      • Urachal cyst
      • Uterine anomalies
      • Uterine fibroids

      Differential Diagnoses

      Workup
       
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