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Delay in diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer
C Wikborn1, F Pettersson, P J Moberg
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden.
Objectives:
To investigate and analyze the process from first recognition of symptom(s) to final diagnosis at operation in patients with ovarian epithelial cancer.
Method:
The medical records of 160 women with ovarian cancer were studied and traced back to the doctor first consulted, in order to obtain information on patient- and doctor-related delay.
Results:
Symptom duration was 12 weeks in patients with serous tumors and 7 weeks in patients with other histopathological classes; 56% were diagnosed within 4 weeks. Women in stages I and II were diagnosed faster than those in stages III and IV; 4% were diagnosed within 3 days because of an emergency operation; 30% were not diagnosed within 8 weeks.
Conclusion:
Diagnosis of ovarian cancer is difficult due to the vagueness of the symptoms which mislead both patients and doctors. Methods to enable earlier diagnosis must be sought.