Symptoms, Signs, and Diagnosis

Abstract

It is commonly stated that ovarian malignancies are frequently asymptomatic; subjective complaints occur only after complications arise or, in the case of carcinoma, after dissemination is widespread. Therefore it is accepted that of all aspects of ovarian cancer the symptomatology is the least satisfactory. If there are no early symptoms of malignant ovarian tumors, this fact is partly responsible for the poor results achieved, because one of the important factors in prognosis in ovarian cancer is the extent of disease at the time of treatment. Specific symptoms depend on the size, location, and type of tumor, as well as on such complicating factors as torsion, hemorrhage, infection, or rupture. Among the germ cell or gonadal stromal tumors, symptoms may relate to the hormone secreted by the tumor.