title: [Adnexal masses: understanding and management].
abstract: Asymptomatic adnexal masses have become common findings due to the widespread use of the transvaginal ultrasound. Most asymptomatic adnexal masses are benign, but malignancy should still be excluded. The assessment of women with adnexal masses, intended to detect the ones suspicious for malignancy, includes the medical history, physical examination, ultrasound scan with Doppler flows, and, in some cases, the CA-125 levels. Once the patient has completed the primary assessment, the important decision is whether to follow her conservatively (if a benign condition is probable), or to proceed to surgery (if malignancy is suspected). This review discusses the evaluation, differential diagnosis, and general approach to adnexal masses, and proposes a management flow chart.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assaf Harofe Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel. noam_yossi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Noam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Smorgick
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Moti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pansky
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: Reuvit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Halperin
mesh_terms: D000291:Adnexal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D018394:CA-125 Antigen