Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Diagnosis of Cancer of the ovary

If ovarian cancer is suspected your GP may do a vaginal and rectal examination to check for lumps. You will then be referred to the hospital for various tests. A full medical history and blood tests will normally be taken.

There are several different tests used to diagnose cancer and also to determine whether it has spread elsewhere in the body.

These may include:

• Laparoscopy, where the doctor inserts a laparoscope (small telescope) through a small cut in the abdomen under general anaesthetic and looks at the ovaries. He or she may also take a small sample of tissue for laboratory examination (biopsy)
• An ultrasound scan, CT or MRI scan. These are used to check of abnormalities or enlargement of the ovaries. They can also measure the size and position of the cancer.

Studies are currently underway to assess the efficiency of screening and the impact of genetic history in women at high risk of developing ovarian cancer.

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