Pelvic Exam

Your doctor will feel inside your vagina and rectum with gloved, lubricated fingers to check for any growths or abnormalities on your ovaries or nearby organs. A rectal exam is important since it allows the doctor to feel deep in the pelvis for any growths which might not be felt on the vaginal exam.

CA-125 Blood Test

CA-125 is a protein made by ovarian cancer cells and normal peritoneum and is a tumor marker for ovarian cancer. CA-125 levels may be higher than normal in women with ovarian cancer. This test alone can't find ovarian cancer. High levels of CA-125 do not necessarily mean you have ovarian cancer and low levels of CA-125 do not necessarily mean you do not. This test is most useful for detecting recurrent ovarian cancer and monitoring treatment progress.

• Please see Understanding Tumor Markers: CA-125 for more information

Transvaginal Ultrasound

Your doctor will insert a wand-shaped scanner with an ultrasound device covered by a condom into your vagina. Ultrasounds emit sound waves and pick up the echoes as they bounce off body tissues to create a black and white image of a part of the body. An ultrasound can help spot a tumor in the ovaries and tell if it is solid or filled with fluid. An abdominal ultrasound may also be ordered.

Chest X-Ray

X-rays use electromagnetic radiation to produce images of the inside of your body. Your doctor may order a chest X-ray to see if the cancer has reached your lungs.

Computed tomography (CT) Scan

A computed tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays to produce an image of your body. A special dye may be injected into your veins and you may be asked to drink a special fluid in order to make the internal organs stand out. A CT scan reveals the presence of tumors and whether or not the cancer has spread to other parts of your body.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radio waves and a powerful magnet to produce detailed images of body parts. Radio waves are absorbed by the body and then released in a certain pattern, which is translated by a computer in order to show "slices" of the body.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan

For a PET scan, the doctor injects a radioactive substance into your bloodstream. This substance collects in malignant (cancerous) cells in your body. The doctor then uses a PET scanner to detect these areas of radioactivity and to find the exact location of cancer in your body. This study may be paired with a CT scan to better localize disease.

Biopsy

A biopsy is the only way to tell for sure if cancer is present. Your doctor will remove a sample of abnormal tissue and send it to a lab to be analyzed under a microscope. An interventional radiologist (a doctor who is a specialist in performing procedures under X-ray guidance) may perform a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy and place a needle directly into the tumor through the abdomen. In other cases, your doctor might remove a sample of fluid from your abdomen to diagnose ovarian cancer. Your doctor may also perform the biopsy laparoscopically and remove the specimen through a small incision in the abdomen. Finally, the biopsy may be performed at the time of definitive surgery described later.