OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine several tumor markers and
their correlation with pathohistological findings in patients with adnexal
masses. METHODS: Study involved 139 patients, 84 of them with benign, 47 with
malignant and 8 with borderline adnexal tumor. Levels of CA 125, CA 19-9, CEA
and CA 15-3 were obtained preoperatively and assessed regarding the specific
pathohistological diagnose and the patient?s age. Obtaining these results led
us to divide the patient?s CA 125 levels with age and by doing that we have
attained a new Tumor Marker Age score (TMA score). Results: Patients with
malignant adnexal tumors had significantly higher levels of CEA (p<0.05), CA
125, CA 19-9 and CA 15-3 tumor markers (p<0.01), in comparison with patients
with benign tumors. TMA score highly statistically correlate with the tumor
type (benignant/malignant). CONCLUSIONS: With the increase of tumor marker
levels and the patient?s age the malignant nature of adnexal tumors is more
often. Results of our study highlight the importance of the use of combined
tumor markers (at least CA-125 and CA 19-9) in women with adnexal masses.
Those levels along with the patient?s age and new TMA score could
preoperatively predict malignant nature of the tumor.
Introduction of new tumor marker age score in clinical practice: Validity evaluation for differentiation benign from malignant adnexal masses