Understanding Tumor Markers and Their Role in Ovarian Mass Management

Population based data tells us that 15 to 20% of women will develop an ovarian cyst during their lifetime. Although most ovarian cyst have a low potential for malignancy, their presence causes anxiety for both the patient and the provider. Our typical mental-exercise is balancing the risks of expected management vs choosing surgery prematurely. Which ovarian masses are likely to resolve if given enough time? Do septated ovarian cysts resolve the same as simple cysts? In this episode, we will highlight and summarize a new publication coming out in Obstet Gynecol (Green Journal) in December 2023. We will also review a uniform, standardized approach to reporting and interpreting ovarian masses, originally published in 2020 by the American College of Radiology. This scale is called the O-RADS classification and provides extremely helpful tools for ovarian cyst prognostication and follow up.