Ca-125 should only be used for follow up of patients with histologically proven tumour and not for screening for cancer. Ca-125 is currently the best serum marker for epithelial ovarian cancer and helpful in the followup and monitoring of these patients..
Indications for measurement of Ca-125 include:
- Staging of newly diagnosed disease
- Surveillance for recurrent disease after curative treatment
- Monitoring of response of disease to treatment
Ca 125 levels may also be elevated in a variety of situations where the peritoneal epithelium is irritated, such as ascites and are therefore not diagnostic of ovarian cancer.
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