Clinical features, socio-demographic profile and ultrasound findings in women with endometriosis symptoms

AIMS: To describe clinical and socio-demographic features, as well as transvaginal ultrasound results, of women with endometriosis symptoms.METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study included patients who had at least one of the following symptoms: dyspareunia, dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and urinary or bowel cyclic symptoms. The sample comprised women treated in a private gynecology clinic located in a small city in southern Brazil, from March to November 2016. All the participants, after signed an informed consent, were subjected to clinical anamnesis, transvaginal ultrasound with bowel preparation, and examination for the CA-125 antigen serum level. Association between two qualitative variables was assessed through Pearson's Chi-Square or Fisher's exact tests. Mean values of quantitative variables were compared through the two-tailed Student's t-test for independent samples. Significance level was set as p<0.05.RESULTS: A total of 85 women, aged 18-49 years, participated in the study. Most were married (75.3%), with children (51.8%), showed no family history of endometriosis (89.4%), had no knowledge about endometriosis (77.6%) and completed high school (43.5%). Ultrasound findings suggested endometriosis in 25 (29.4%) women. Dysmenorrhea was the most prevalent symptom (88.2%), followed by dyspareunia (61.2%). In comparison to those without ultrasound signs, the patients whose ultrasound findings suggested endometriosis had an older age (37.16±6.83 years vs. 30.37±6.80 years, p<0.001) and a longer duration of symptoms (9.06±6.49 years vs. 5.27±4.79 years, p=0.004). In addition, they presented higher mean serum CA-125 antigen levels (50.07±54.05 U/mL vs. 17.71±14.09 U/mL, p=0.011). Endometriosis-compatible lesions were mainly found in the ovaries (60%) and in the rectosigmoid region (52%). The disease was confirmed in the nine cases that were subjected to videolaparoscopy.CONCLUSIONS: Transvaginal ultrasound confirmed endometriosis in about one third of symptomatic patients, who were older, had symptoms for a longer time, and had higher serum CA-125 antigen levels in comparison to those without endometriosis diagnosis based on transvaginal ultrasound. Ovaries and rectosigmoid region were the sites with the highest frequency of ultrasound signs of endometriosis.

Rational application of tumor marker CA 125 in gynecological oncology

Introduction CA 125 determination started in 1981, when Bast et al. discovered monoclonal antibody OC-125 belonging to immunoglobulin G class (IgG1) using K?hler and Milstein's technique of hybridization. CA 125 antigen is produced in amniotic cells of the 7 week-old embryo, while in adults it can be detected in epithelium of most organs which originate from M?ller ducts. The upper level of referent values for CA 125 in serum is 35 U/mL and can be seen in about 99% of healthy people. Application of tumor marker CA 125 in gynecological oncology More than 83% of patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma have elevated values of CA 125 higher than 35 U/mL at the moment of diagnosing the disease. In cases of ovarian carcinoma, preoperatively determined values of CA 125 in serum are correlated with the extent of the expansion of the disease , histological type of tumor and degree of differentiation of malignant cells. Elevated values up to 65 U/mL in serum can also be found in other malignant tumors (pancreas, breast, colon, bladder, lungs, liver) and in different benign diseases. The level of serum CA 125 after the surgery can indicate regression or progression of ovarian carcinoma in more than 90% of the patients who had had elevated values of CA125 prior to the surgery. Postoperative levels of CA 125 >35 U/mL in patients with no residual tumor and values >65 U/mL in those with residual tumor implants represent a separate prognostic factor in further course of the disease. Conclusion The importance of continuous determination of CA 125 tumor marker has to be adjusted to each single case.