engleski

Significance of CA 125 serum level in discrimination between benign and malignant masses in the pelvis

Background. To find out whether our results support a preoperative determination of serum level CA 125 for discrimination between benign and malignant masses in pelvis in order to plan a therapy. Methods. Preoperative serum level CA 125 was analyzed retrospectively in 155 patients who had surgery because of malignant ovarian tumor and in 164 patients with benign masses in pelvis. The cutoff serum level CA 125 between benign and malignant masses in pelvis was 35 and 65 IU/ml. For statistical data processing two tests were used:Hypothesis test of proportion and  -square test of independence. All tests were done at the significance level of 5%. Results: Preoperative serum level CA 125 was higher than 35 IU/ml in 78.7% patients with malignant tumor and in 72.3% patients it was higher than 65 IU/ml whereas serum level CA 125 was higher than 35 IU/ml in 25.6% patients with benign masses in pelvis and in 12.2% it was higher than 65 IU/ml. In initial stages of ovarian malignant tumor (borderline, stage I/II) preoperative serum level CA 125 was higher than 35 IU/ml in 63.6% patients and in 51.9% patients it was higher than 65 IU/ml. In advanced stages (III/IV), it was higher than 35 IU/ml in 97.0% patients and in 95.4% patients it was higher than 65 IU/ml. The serum level CA 125 was below 35 IU/ml after therapy in 75.8% patients and after 3 chemotherapy courses in 76.6% patients. The CA 125 level less than 35 IU/ml was achieved by therapy in 88.0% patients with initial stage (I/II) and in 67.6% in advanced stage (III/IV). The calculated sensitivity was 78.7%, specificity 74.4%, positive predictive value 74.4% and negative 78.7% (CA 125>35 IU/ml) and 72, 3%, 87.8%, 84.8%, 77.0% respectively (CA 125 >65 IU/ml). Conclusion. A preoperative determination of serum level CA 125 can be considered a very useful method for discrimination between benign and malignant masses in the pelvis.

Ovarian tumors ; serum CA 125 ; tumor markers

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