Information
Ovarian cancer is the 6th most common malignancy in females in the UK accounting for 3900 deaths per year reaming one of the leading causes of gynaecological cancer death as many cases are diagnosed at a late stage. 7600 new cases are diagnosed each year.
In Scotland around 600 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year. 71% of those diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Scotland were diagnosed at a late stage (stage 3 or 4) and 26% of those with a diagnosis in Scotland reported visiting their GP 3 or more times before being referred for tests.
See Family History of Breast and or Ovarian Cancer – RefHelp for information about identifying women who have a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.
B.C. & M.M. 2/3/26
Who to refer:
Please ensure patients have USS prior to referral and CA125 pending or completed.
- USS suspicious of ovarian malignancy or abdominal/pelvic mass (not obviously uterine fibroids, GI or Urological in origin
- Elevated CA125* (a level of 35 International Units per millimetre (IU/ml) or greater)
- Unexplained ascites
How to refer:
Sci-Gateway > RIE or SJH> Gynaecology> Ovarian Pathology>USOC
Please perform abdominal and pelvic examination on all women suspected of having ovarian cancer
Organise Urgent Suspicious of Cancer pelvic USS
Measure CA125 (not during menstruation if possible)
