Ovarian cancer: diagnosis and management.

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecological cancer in the United States. Early diagnosis is a matter of chance rather than a scientific method. Although it is stated that there are no symptoms in the early stage of ovarian cancer, a careful history often reveals vague gastrointestinal symptoms that have been persistent. Surgery is the treatment of choice for ovarian cancer, with chemotherapy employed as adjunctive therapy. Radiation therapy has limited application in treating common epithelial cancers but is valuable in the management of germ cell and gonadal stromal tumors. Of the numerous laboratory tests available, only immunologic assay appears to have the potential for making an early diagnosis and monitoring treatment.