title: Serum Ca-125 concentrations in endometriosis.
abstract: Serum Ca-125 levels were measured in 154 patients undergoing laparoscopy or laparotomy for infertility and/or pelvic pain. Pelvic endometriosis at various stages was observed in 102 of the patients, and 52 had a visually normal pelvis and served as a control group. We found a significantly higher mean serum Ca-125 concentration in the patients with stages III and IV endometriosis compared with the controls (P less than 0.001) whereas in the patients with stages I and II disease the mean antigen level was comparable to that of the control group. Considering its low sensitivity (14.7%) the usefulness of serum Ca-125 measurements as an initial diagnostic test for endometriosis is scanty. On the contrary, because of its elevated specificity (100%), this test may be useful in indicating early surgical exploration of the pelvis in cases of infertility and/or dysmenorrhea which are associated with high values of Ca-125.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica L. Mangiagalli, Università di Milano.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fedele
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arcaini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vercellini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marchini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baglioni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bianchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology; D010535:Laparoscopy
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate