Tumor markers in mature cystic teratomas of the ovary

The objective of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of tumor markers in patients with ovarian mature cystic teratomas. Retrospective study of 215 patients operated at Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health Education and Research Hospital between January 2001 and October 2006 was performed. The median age was 36 years (range 13-80). The mean tumor diameter was 7.7 +/- A 4.6 cm (range 2-25). The mean serum CA 125 level was 26.2 +/- A 29.9 U/mL (range 1.4-225, normal value < 35), and the mean serum CA 19-9 level was 83.5 +/- A 179.2 IU/mL (range 0.6-1,000; normal value < 37). The elevated rate of CA 19-9, CA 125 was 39.6% (74/187) and 23.3% (50/215), respectively. The mean age of patients and the rate of bilaterality of tumors were similar in both patients with elevated CA19-9 and with normal CA 19-9 level (P > 0.05). The mean tumor size of patients with elevated CA 19-9 was greater than those with normal CA19-9 level (P = 0.01). Serum CA 19-9 has the highest positivity rate among other tumor markers in ovarian mature cystic teratomas. Elevated serum CA 19-9 levels are correlated with larger tumor size. But the diagnostic value of elevated CA 19-9 in patients with MCT would be poor if the test was used alone.