1,138 women with adnexal mass: pathologic findings according to age

Purpose ofinvestigation: Influence of the patients' age are not well established to predict the malignancy potential of adnexal masses. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of women's age on both histopathology and malignancy potential of adnexal masses.

This is a retrospective chart review study. Patients who were operated for suspected adnexal masses were included in the study. Malignancy potentials of tumors were divided in benign and at least borderline in univariate and multivariate analyses. Univariate analyses and RR calculations were performed according to malignancy potential for age, serum cancer antigen-125 (CA-125) levels and menopause status.

A total of 1,138 women were included for this study; median age was 39 (16-92) years. Patients > 50 years had 5.920 times higher risk (95% CI 4.091-8.566; p = 0.0001) of having at least borderline tumor compared the younger group. The risk of at least borderline pathology was calculated as 3.723 (95% CI 2.595-5.342;p = 0.0001) in patients with CA 125 ≥ 35 IU/ml compared to the others. In multivariate analyses, only ≥ 35 IU/ml CA 125 level and > 50 years age groups were defined as independent variables for having at least borderline tumor. (OR: 4.456, 95% CI 2.982-6.659, p = 0.0001 and OR: 3.134, 95% CI 1.435-6.843, p = 0.004, respectively).

In this study; the age of > 50 years was detected as an independent factor for having at least borderline pathology for adnexal masses. The data from these results might be used as a differential diagnostic tool in a new combination for benign and malignant adnexal masses in future studies.