Clinical significance of serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 in ovarian mature cystic teratoma / 대한산부인과학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study is to determine serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 levels in ovarian mature cystic teratoma (MCT) as a possible differential diagnostic tool. METHODS: The study group was composed of 201 patients who underwent removal of ovarian MCT and pathologically confirmed at Yonsei University Medical Center from January 2001 to July 2005. All of them were tested for serum CA19-9 levels before operation. Their data was compared with routine gynecologic evaluation group who showed normal serum CA19-9 level. Statistical analysis was carried out with t-test and Pearson correlation by SPSS version 12.0. RESULTS: Serum CA19-9 level was significantly elevated in the patients with ovarian MCT (p=0.011). Serum CA19-9 level and size of MCT showed positive correlation (p=0.009). Moreover, postoperative serum CA19-9 level showed significant decrease, compared to preoperative level (p=0.007). CONCLUSION: Serum CA19-9 can be used as an effective method for differential diagnosis of ovarian MCT, and it is proper to be used as a postoperative follow-up test.