Radiological Imaging and CA125 Correlation as Predictive Variables in Ovarian Pathologies

Introduction: Primary Ovary Neoplasms are the most frequent tumors showing epithelial differentiation. Tumour Marker CA-125, glycoprotein synthesized mainly by neoplastic cells with epithelial differentiation. Serum Level of CA-125 has a biological potential of these lesions. This study is mainly done to evaluate the association between serum CA-125 levels and imaging findings and to predict malignancy in various ovarian lesions.

Objectives: To evaluate the capacity of CA125 and Imaging findings to predict malignancy in various ovarian pathologies.

Materials and Methods: Study area: Department of Radiology, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Study design: Retrospective study.

Study period: 6months.

Study population: Patients with history and clinical symptoms of ovarian lesions and USG detected ovarian lesions confirmed on Radiological Imaging.

Sampling method: Purposive sampling Sample size: 30.

Inclusion criteria: Patients with clinically suspected ovarian lesions or indeterminate ovarian lesions on USG who underwent Radiological imaging and CA-125 estimation.

Exclusion criteria: Children less than 12years of age are excluded from this study.

Results: Among 30 cases, 19(63.33%) were benign and 2(6.67%) were borderline and 9(30%) were malignant lesion in the present study. Ovarian pathologies is mostly seen in women of age above 25 yrs(86.67%). In this study Ovarian lesions are more commonly seen in married women(86.67%) and menstruating women(56.67%). Out of 30 Cases, Serum CA-125 level <35IU/ml is seen among 13(43.33%) and level >35IU/ml is seen among 17(56.67%). Out of 17 women with CA-125 level >35IU/ml, 9 had malignant lesions on histopathology while 7 women had benign lesions and 1 women had borderline lesion.

Conclusion: The present study shows significant association of Serum CA-125 levels with mixed solid cystic ovarian lesions ill defined margins (possible Malignant Ovarian lesions) (p<0.05) especially in Post-menopausal women.