Research & Professional Guidelines

Two blood tests improve risk in assessment after ovarian ultrasound Increased use of two non-invasive laboratory tests would help internists and OB-GYN generalists better assess and monitor patients whose sonograms indicate an ovarian mass. The tests, which are typically covered by insurance, monitor and assess risk of malignancy when masses have been identified by sonography, says Kevin Elias, MD, a Cleveland Clinic gynecologic oncologist and ovarian cancer researcher. They are especially useful for patients whose scan results are classified as “intermediate risk” using the Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System Ultrasound (O-RADS). O-RADS scores are as follows: 0=Incomplete evaluation 1=Normal ovary 2=Almost certainly benign (less than 1% risk) 3=Low malignancy risk (1% to less than 10%) 4=Intermediate risk (10% to 50%) 5=High risk (more than 50%) Any score up to 3 can be managed by the patient’s OB-GYN or internist; 5 should be referred directly to a gynecologic oncologist. A score of 4, however, leads many doctors…

Analysis of the cost-effectiveness of using a multivariate index assay versus modified ACOG criteria and CA125 for triaging women with adnexal masses.

Imaging, OVA1 score, and menopausal status independently affected ovarian risk in women with adnexal mass planned for surgery. The results helped define how ultrasound and the OVA1 score work together to identify patients at higher risk of malignancy.

Analysis of test performance revealed that Ova1 plus clinical assessment maintained a sensitivity of 95.3% which was superior to clinical assessment alone 68.6%, CA125 62.8%, and modified ACOG guidelines 76.7%.