Endometriosis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Endometriosis, including details on causes, treatment, symptoms, infertility.

Extremely elevated serum CA-125 level as a result of unruptured unilateral endometrioma: the highest value reported.

Kahraman K, Ozguven I, Gungor M, Atabekoglu CS

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. korhankahraman@hotmail.com

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of a unilateral endometrioma with extremely elevated serum CA-125 levels. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT(S): A 25-year-old woman with left adnexal mass and extremely elevated serum CA-125 level, 7,900 U/mL, underwent laparoscopy. There were unilateral endometrioma and stage IV endometriosis. INTERVENTION(S): Laparoscopic excision of the endometrioma, unilateral salpingectomy, adhesiolysis, ablation of endometriotic foci, and partial omentectomy were performed, and histopathologic results confirmed the diagnosis of endometriosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Extremely elevated serum CA-125 levels and unruptured ovarian endometrioma. RESULT(S): On the second, sixth, and 13th days of the menstrual period, serum CA-125 levels were 7,900 U/mL, 1,577 U/mL, and 627 U/mL, respectively. On the third postoperative day serum CA-125 level was 56 U/mL. CONCLUSION(S): Ovarian endometrioma and advanced endometriosis may be associated with extremely elevated serum CA-125 levels. For this reason ovarian endometrioma should be considered with respect to differential diagnosis of reproductive-age women presenting with an ovarian mass even if it resembles an ovarian malignancy.

Published 8 October 2007 in Fertil Steril, 88(4): 968.e15-7.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Endometriosis Research Today. All Rights Reserved.