title: Clinical relevance of presenting symptoms in the preoperative evaluation of pelvic masses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are few studies which have analyzed patients' presenting symptoms to evaluate whether a particular symptom is clinically significant. This study is aimed at determining whether any particular presenting symptom is important in the preoperative evaluation of a pelvic mass.
  
  
  METHODS
  130 charts of patients presenting with a pelvic mass were reviewed. A standard data collection technique was used to determine rate of occurrence as well as clinical statistical relevance of specific symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  25 malignancies, 16 of gynecologic origin, were found. Of the variables studied, women older than 50 showed a 14 fold increase in RR (OR 23.3. 95 percent CI 5-104.8) and those with abdominal distention showed an OR 7.9 (95 percent CI 2-21.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abdominal distention showed statistical significance and may be useful in the preoperative assessment of a pelvic mass.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Levey
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Larson
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies