The role of tumor markers in predicting mature cystic teratoma of the ovary

H. Cengiz, L. Yasar, C. Kaya, M. Erkin, S. Karakas

Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate size, torsion rate, bilaterality, histopathologic origin, and the serum levels of some tumor markers in patients with mature cystic teratomas of the ovary.Retrospective study of 110 patients operated at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Turkey, between January 1998 and December 2003 was performed. The patients were divided into two groups according to cut off levels of each cancer antigens (CA) 19-9 and CA 125. Statistical analysis of the data was performed by Student’s t test, Pearson’s chisquare test and Mann-Whitney rank sum test. Results. The mean age was 36.01 ± 12,403 years (range 15-78). The mean tumor diameter was 67.83±32.049 mm (range 27-211mm). The mean serum tumor markers of CA 19-9 and 125, carcinoembryogenic antigen and α-fetoprotein levels were 101.2±179.7 IU/mL, 32.0±37.8 U/mL, 1.46±1.20 ng/mL and 2.7±3.0 ng/mL. The bilaterally rate was 6.4% in the normal CA19-9 group and 5.4% in the normal CA125 group. There was no bilaterally in both of the elevated CA19-9 and CA125 groups. The histopathologic component of the teratomas were sebum (70%), hair (62.7%), keratin (20%), cartilage (16.3%) and teeth (3.6%). The torsion rate was 11.5% in the normal CA19-9 group, 15.20% in the normal CA125 group and 15.6% in the elevated CA19-9 group. There was no patient with torsion in the elevated CA125 group. Our study shows that there was no statistical significance between the two analyzed groups in respect to relation between tumor markers and the mean tumor size, bilaterally or torsion rate.
Keywords: ectoderm, mature teratoma, ovary, tumor markers.