ct scan always show ovca?

[thesixb's]

Alright, I have another question (about 30 really but I'll only ask one more for now).  Can a CT scan always tell if an ovarian cyst is benign/malignant?

[alanpvegas]

sorta...the ct scan does 'slices' as it goes through your body in addition to a 'scout' scan that looks sorta like a regular x-ray but a little better.  Using both the radiologists can determine what is going on.  Obviouslly if you have a big mass on your ovary, pretty good chance it may be malignant.  The radiologists can tell by certain measurements, experience, etc. if there is a good probability of it being a complex cyst or not.

Beyond that a CT scan is only one part of any good diagnosis/workup.  Ultrasounds, MRI, PET, CA-125 tests, etc. all come into play to get an overall good picture for the oncologist.

Form the SimplyStar is right, only during surgery when the Gyn/Onc does the staging come into play.  While they may have experience in determining if it is malignant, only during pathology at the lab is it actually determined.

[Helmar]

My Doctor told me after a Ct scan that there was 99.9% chance that I had Ovarian cancer, as it was well advanced by then.... and Stage 4, so I guess they have a fair idea from the scan that it could be cancer, but maybe not in all cases.

[SimplyStar]

No only surgery and a path report of the tissue removed can diagnose OVCA