OVARIAN BENIGN TUMOURS 

An ovarian benign tumour is a non-cancerous growth that does not spread to other parts of the body and is usually not life threatening. Benign conditions such as cysts and polycystic ovaries are non-cancerous.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OVARIAN CYST AND TUMOUR

  • Cyst: A cyst is a sac that maybe filled with fluid or other material and can be formed in any part of the body including bones, organs and soft tissues. Common cyst examples of cysts include sebaceous cysts, small bumps that are formed beneath the skin. Note that, nearly all cancers are capable of producing cysts but not all cysts are cancerous.
  • Tumour: A tumour is any abnormal mass of tissue which can form in any part of the body. A tumour can either be benign or malignant.

 

SYMPTOMS

  • Weight gain
  • Nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Feeling full quickly
  • Painful menstruation and abnormal bleeding
  • Dull ache in the lower back
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • Difficulty urinating or frequent need to urinate

TREATMENT

LAPAROSCOPY

This is a surgical procedure carried out for the treatment of ovarian cysts. The surgery can also be performed to remove a small piece of tissue to test for cancer.

LAPAROTOMY

This procedure is carried out when larger incisions have to be made for the removal of large cysts or ovarian tumours. The surgeon may remove the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, omentum and nearby lymph nodes depending on how far the cancer Is spread.

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

  • Blood test: Blood tests are carried out to look for a protein called CA-125 if cancer is suspected. Levels of this protein tend to be higher in some women with ovarian cancer. This test is mainly used in women over the age of 35 who are highly susceptible to ovarian cancer.
  • Hormone levels:  Blood tests may be carried out to check for the levels of hormone such as Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Estradiol and Testosterone.
  • Ultrasound: This is a test which makes use of sound waves to create an image of the ovaries. It assists the doctor in determining the size and location of the cyst or tumour.

Other imaging tests such as Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography  (PET)  are highly comprehensive imaging scans. These tests are used to detect tumours and to find out how far and where they have  been spread to.