What is Carcinoid Tumour of the Ovary?
Ovarian carcinoid tumour is a rare type of ovarian cancer and accounts for 0.1% of all ovarian cancers. It usually occurs in women after menopause (complete cessation of menstruation after age 49). It has a low tendency to spread to the other parts of the body from its site of origin.Disease Causes
Mutations (defective changes) in oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes are the cause of the development of atypical ovarian carcinoid tumours.Signs and Symptoms
The patient may suffer from the following signs and symptoms. These are- Pain in the abdomen
- Distension of the abdomen
- Swelling or lump in the abdomen or pelvic region
- Pain, pressure, or feeling of fullness in the abdomen(belly)
Diagnosis
Following diagnostic tests and procedures can be used to make the diagnosis. These are- Complete blood count ( CBC)
- Serum tumour markers
- Imaging techniques like ultrasonography (USG), CT-scan, MRI, and X-Ray to detect the site, size, and extent of the tumour.
- Pelvic examination through per- speculum examination of the vagina, cervix, and ovaries. A speculum is a gynecological instrument used to visualize the vaginal wall, cervix, uterus, and ovaries to detect any abnormality.
- CA-125