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Symptoms and diagnostic difficulties in ovarian epithelial cancer
C Wikborn1, F Pettersson, C Silfverswärd
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.
Objective:
To investigate and analyze symptoms in patients with different types of ovarian cancer.
Method:
Records of 160 women with ovarian cancer were studied in detail following the patients from first consultation to operation and diagnosis at Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm.
Result:
No specific group of symptoms could be linked to type or stage of ovarian cancer. Gastrointestinal symptoms were more common in patients with class 1C tumors. Only 21% complained of gynecological symptoms. Women with class 1C cancer had significantly more advanced disease than those with 2C-5C cancer as 77% had a stage III-IV tumor compared with 40% of class 2C-5C patients.
Conclusion:
Diagnosis of ovarian cancer is difficult due to the multitude of symptoms often appearing late in the disease. The majority of women did not experience symptoms in the genital organs. Methods to encourage early consultation should be investigated.