Peri- and post-menopausal incidental adnexal masses and the risk of sporadic ovarian malignancy: new insights and clinical management

Adnexal masses are common among peri- and post-menopausal women. Although ovarian cancer is a significant cause of mortality in menopausal women, large population-based studies demonstrate that the majority of adnexal masses are benign. Despite this, the appearance of an adnexal mass is a concern fo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Gynecological endocrinology 2010-09, Vol.26 (9), p.631-643
Main Authors: Pérez-López, Faustino R., Chedraui, Peter, Troyano-Luque, Juan M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adnexal Diseases - diagnosis
Adnexal Diseases - etiology
Adnexal Diseases - therapy
adnexal mass
CA 125
Carcinoma - diagnosis
Carcinoma - etiology
Carcinoma - therapy
Cysts - diagnosis
Cysts - etiology
Cysts - therapy
Doppler
Female
Humans
Incidental Findings
incidental ovarian cyst
Menopause
Models, Biological
ovarian cancer
Ovarian Neoplasms - diagnosis
Ovarian Neoplasms - etiology
Ovarian Neoplasms - therapy
Perimenopause - physiology
Postmenopause - physiology
ultrasound scan
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Adnexal masses are common among peri- and post-menopausal women. Although ovarian cancer is a significant cause of mortality in menopausal women, large population-based studies demonstrate that the majority of adnexal masses are benign. Despite this, the appearance of an adnexal mass is a concern for the patient and an insight exercise for physicians. In most cases, an adnexal enlargement is an incidental finding, generally corresponding to a benign cyst and easily diagnosed by conventional ultrasound. Exceptionally an ovarian tumour may be malignant and should be treated as early as possible. When conventional ultrasound renders complex morphology other diagnostic tools must be used such as: colour Doppler and functional tumour vessel properties, serum CA 125 levels, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and in some cases laparoscopy. Several new tumour markers are being studied for clinical application, although there are presently no clear recommendations. Adnexal masses with benign morphological and functional properties must be periodically monitored as an alternative to surgery since malignant transformation is exceptional.
ISSN:0951-3590
1473-0766
DOI:10.3109/09513590.2010.487611