Publication:

A retrospective analysis on the association between aetiology and symptomatology of ovarian carcinoma at a tertiary care centre

Background Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of cancer related mortality in women, but is often diagnosed during late stages since the symptomatology at onset of illness is often vague and inconsistent. Mortality and morbidity in carcinoma ovary patients are found to reduce dramatically when definitive diagnosis is arrived upon at early stages. Thus, the aim of our study was to analyse the symptomatology of diagnosed cases of carcinoma ovary with its known aetiology to elicit significant associations that may aid in diagnostic cues for this elusive disease. This study aimed to analyse the symptomatology of diagnosed cases of carcinoma ovary with its etiological factors.

Methods In a retrospective design, data was collected from hospital records and interviewing known cases of ovarian cancer, age at presentation, age at first child birth, parity, BMI, family history, chief complaint at presentation was analysed.

Results Abdominal pain was the chief complaint in majority of patients. Majority of the patients were having parity less than 2. Over one-third of patients had obesity. Age at presentation, age at first child birth, and parity were not associated or correlated with each other.  Age at first child birth was significantly higher (27 years vs 22 years) in those having positive family history for ovarian cancer.

Conclusions Later age of first child birth, obesity and parity less than 2 were found to have positive association with carcinoma ovary.