[Non-radiologic measures for the diagnosis of ovarian carcinomas]

The ovarian carcinoma is still a problematic carcinoma. There are no early symptoms and no early diagnostics. Those carcinomas which are detected in an initial stage are generally found by chance during an operation indicated otherwise. Gynecologic palpation is the most important among the non-radiologic diagnostic means. Every ovarian tumor with a size of more than 5 cm is suspicious to be a carcinoma and has to be further investigated. Age is the most important risk factor. After the age of 35, the incidence of the ovarian carcinoma increases continuously until the age of 70. A reliable confirmation of the diagnosis "ovarian carcinoma" is only possible by laparoscopy and/or laparotomy. Laparotomy should be planned in such a manner that therapeutic surgery can be immediately performed if the diagnosis is confirmed.