Diagnosis and management of epithelial ovarian cancer

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women after breast, bowel, lung, and endometrial and remains the leading cause of death due to gynecological malignancy (Cancer.org 2016). Epithelial ovarian cancer accounts for the vast majority of ovarian malignancies with figures of around 85%. Due to its insidious nature of presentation, it is often not diagnosed until the later stages leading to a high mortality rate. Five-year survival is very much influenced by stage at diagnosis. Over the last 20 years, incidence and mortality have remained fairly static, and much research is being undertaken looking for aids to diagnosis, possible screening methods, and improvement in treatment options, both surgical and medical. In this chapter we will discuss presentation, diagnostic tools, and possible management regimes for patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.