Clinical Significance of Serum CA-125 in Korean Females with Ascites.
10.3349/ymj.2013.54.5.1241
- Author:
So Young BAE
1
;
Jun Haeng LEE
;
Jun Young PARK
;
Da Min KIM
;
Byung Hoon MIN
;
Poong Lyul RHEE
;
Jae J KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. stomachlee@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Ascites;
epithelial ovarian cancer;
tuberculous peritonitis;
serum CA-125
- MeSH:
Ascites/*blood;
CA-125 Antigen/*blood;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Female;
Humans;
Multivariate Analysis;
Ovarian Neoplasms/blood/*diagnosis;
Peritonitis, Tuberculous/blood/*diagnosis;
Republic of Korea;
Retrospective Studies
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2013;54(5):1241-1247
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is endemic in Korea. Because tuberculous peritonitis is characterized by ascites, abdominal pain, abdominal mass and elevation of serum CA-125, it can be confused with ovarian malignancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of serum CA-125 level in the differential diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis and ovarian malignancy in a Mycobacterium tuberculosis-endemic area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of patients diagnosed with tuberculous peritonitis (n=48) or epithelial ovarian malignancy (n=370) at Samsung Medical Center from January 2000 to October 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Median serum CA-125 level in the epithelial ovarian cancer group was significantly higher than that in the tuberculous peritonitis group (p< or =0.01). Only one patient (2.1%) in the tuberculous peritonitis group had a serum CA-125 level over 2000 U/mL. However, 109 patients (29.5%) in the epithelial ovarian cancer group had a serum CA-125 level over 2000 U/mL. At the CA-125 ranges of 400 to 599 and 600 to 799, the proportions of those with tuberculous peritonitis were 24% and 21.9%, respectively. At a serum CA-125 level over 1000 U/mL, however, the proportion of tuberculous peritonitis was much lower (2.1%). CONCLUSION: Tuberculous peritonitis should be considered in the evaluation of female patients with ascites and high serum CA-125.
