Preoperative Serum CA-125 Levels in Patients With Surgical Stage I Invasive Ovarian Adenocarcinoma

Abstract
Preoperative Serum CA-125 levels were elevated in only three of 13 Patients (23%) with a pelvic mass who were found to have surgical stage I invasive ovarian adenocarcinoma. This low incidence is surprising, since elevated levels have been found in >80% of patients with advanced ovarian cancer. This Suggests serious limitations for using serum CA-125 levels as a screening test for ovarian cancer. [J Natl Cancer Inst 1988;80:208–209]