Women's Health

Ovarian cancer

Ovarian, fallopian-tube and primary peritoneal cancers are closely related diseases that often spread across the peritoneum before causing obvious local symptoms; persistent or frequent bloating, early satiety, pelvic or abdominal pain and urinary symptoms need the current NICE symptom-triggered testing pathway.

Definition

Ovarian cancer is a malignant cancer involving the ovary; clinically related fallopian-tube and primary peritoneal cancers are often grouped with it because they share presentation, spread and treatment pathways. Most clinically important cases are epithelial, including high-grade serous carcinoma.

First principles

Ovarian, tubal and primary peritoneal cancers are managed as a related group

High-grade epithelial disease may arise in or involve the ovary, fallopian tube or peritoneum, and these cancers are often grouped because their biology, spread and treatment overlap. High-grade serous carcinoma is the dominant aggressive epithelial pattern; the exact site of origin should not distract from specialist staging and treatment planning.

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