Worried about echogenic area on right ovary

[KayEmDee]

I recently had a transvaginal ultrasound to confirm a uterine fibroid, and it also picked up an "echogenic area suspicious of dermoid tumor" on my right ovary.  My ob/gyn said because my ovary wssn't enlarged, she thought it could just be calcium deposits.  We will recheck again in 3 months.  I have never heard of calcium deposits on ovaries, and am becoming completely paranoid about possible ovarian cancer.  Does anyone know anything about this this topic?  Thanks!!

[LindaF]

My doc friend told me that calcium deposits are simply tissue that hardens. It used to be that calcifications were thought to be very ominous, but now they are recognizing that simple aging of tissue can produce benign calcifications as well.

My cyst had both a papillary projection and calcification and turned out to be a benign cystadenoma -- and it was on my tube, not my ovary!!! All that worry about ovarian cancer and it wasn't even ovarian. SIGH. Now, less then a year later, I have a hemmorhagic ovarian cyst, 2 cm. I would have panicked before but I'm now learning that these can be quite normal. I called my OB/GYN to follow up and his response was to have a follow-up ultrasound in two months but usually these resolve and unless I was still in pain (I'm not), it's not even a blip in his radar fear-wise.

We all have a tendency to fear the worst. I am the biggest hypochondriac on this planet -- I can create illnesses where none exist, trust me!  Follow up on the ultrasounds as recommended over the next couple months and if you are truly scared, opt for a laparoscopy. They are truly a cakewalk. I had one to remove my cyst on a Wednesday and was up at my beach house by that Monday. I could have left Saturday actually but my mother was worried :)

L.

[dot-to-dot]

When I was 28 I had a dermoid cyst removed from my right ovary.  I didn't know that I had one, but had always had pain in my side during ovulation that I just assumed was normal.  When I tried to get pregnant and couldn't, the dermoid cyst was discovered and removed.  I then went on to have 2 children.  However, fast forward nearly 15 years and I experienced pain again.  Ultrasounds showed cysts, but my doctor didn't think they were abnormal and put me on the pill and I felt better.  A year later I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  My knowledgeable gyn/onc. has assured me that the dermoid cyst is completely different than ovarian cancer - 2 separate things.  So, I don't know if it was just a fluke that I had both of these things or what.  I would ask to be rechecked in 2 months instead of 3.  Also, ask for 2 CA125 blood tests to see if there is any increase in the levels.  That should put your mind at rest and help you rule out any cancer.

dot-to-dot

[KayEmDee]

Thanks for your responses!  I don't understand why my ob/gyn is assuming that these are calcifications.  I mean, how does she really know?  I too, can be a major hypochondriac, so maybe I am making more of this than it is, but shouldn't the Dr. err more on the side of caution?  Not sure what I am going to do at this point, probably wait for the next ultrasound and figure it out from there.  If the area hasn't changed at all, I still might ask for the CA125 test.  Thanks again for your comments.