title: Differential diagnosis of peri- and postmenopausal ovarian cysts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the value of preoperative and intracystic parameters in the differential diagnosis of ovarian cysts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Criteria for admission of 58 patients were age > 47 years, complete history, detection of CA 125 serum level, and ultrasound findings. Tumor markers (CA 125, cancer-associated serum antigen (CASA), CA 72-4), hormones (estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH)), epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and c-erb B-2 amplification rate were detected in cyst fluid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 58 subjects, 9 (15.4%) had functional cysts, 37 (63.8%) had benign tumors and 12 (20.8%) had malignant tumors. No functional ovarian cyst presented as echoic or multilocular cyst sonographically. The serum CA 125 values demonstrated significant differences between the non-malignant and malignant patient groups (P < 0.0005). The majority (63.8%, n = 37) of ovarian cysts were obtained at laparotomy, whereas only 36.2% (n = 21) were laparoscopically operated. The cyst fluid levels of FSH (P < 0.005) and LH (P < 0.05) were significantly lower in the functional group than in the benign or malignant group. Malignant cysts were significantly different from non-malignant cysts regarding low E2 (P < 0.01), high FSH (P < 0.05) and CASA (P < 0.02) values. There were no significant correlations between EGF receptor (P = 0.14) and c-erb B-2 (P = 0.06) gene amplification rates and malignant histology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simple ovarian cysts combined with normal serum CA 125 levels are candidates for conservative follow-up or laparoscopy. The serum CA 125 is a powerful marker for prediction of histology in postmenopausal ovarian cyst. Laparoscopic surgery may be considered in patients with multilocular sonographic findings and normal CA 125 serum level. Combining serum CA 125 levels with cyst fluid parameters (E2, FSH, CASA) improves the sensitivity and specificity in predicting malignancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rostock, Germany. toralf.reimer@med.uni-rostock.de
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reimer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jeschke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Friese
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017698:Postmenopause; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen