The preoperative diagnosis of malignancy of ovarian cysts

The diagnostic difficulties of ovarian carcinoma are well known. In the present investigation efforts were made to improve the diagnosis of malignant ovarian cystic tumors by utilizing their proliferative growth with high vascularity. Under the guidance of ultrasound, fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens were obtained, and the presence of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products and the DNA synthesis were determined in the aspirated cystic or ascitic fluid, besides cytology. With the combination of these diagnostic tools, the possibility of a true preoperative diagnosis is nearly one hundred per cent, which improved the chances of an effective therapy.