Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis

At Winship, we have a team of radiologists and pathologists dedicated to gynecologic cancers and other cancers affecting women, making them experts in ovarian cancer diagnosis and staging. This is crucial because the stage of your disease indicates whether it has spread to your lymph nodes and other parts of the body. However, we don't stop there. We go beyond staging to analyze your cancer down to the molecular level, determining precisely what's driving it — so we can figure out the most effective strategies to stop it.

If your doctor feels something concerning during a pelvic exam or you have symptoms of ovarian cancer, your physician will order diagnostic tests to check for the presence of cancer. If found, we’ll then take a closer look to ensure you receive a thorough and accurate ovarian cancer diagnosis. We take a multi-stage approach to diagnosing cancer, because it’s imperative we understand your cancer so we can treat it accordingly. We know you’re anxious to move forward with treatment, but it’s critical that you get a full and precise ovarian cancer diagnosis.

Diagnostic imaging. At Winship, we have access to the most up-to-date imaging technology that helps us diagnose and stage ovarian cancer. We use computed tomography (CT) imaging to examine masses on the ovaries and conduct needle biopsies, which allow us to extract small amounts of tissue for laboratory testing. We also use other imaging tests, including ultrasound, positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to determine whether and how far the disease has spread throughout the body.

Biopsy. The only way to determine whether a growth on the ovary is cancerous is to remove a sample of the tumor (biopsy) and test it in the lab. It is often the case with suspected ovarian cancer that it is performed via surgery at the same time the tumor is removed. Our team of dedicated gynecologic and abdominal surgeons is skilled at removing cancers from even extremely hard-to-reach places. Sometimes a biopsy is performed by the interventional radiology team who specialize in these minimally invasive biopsies.

Molecular pathology. If your team determines that your tumor is cancerous, our molecular pathologists will conduct genomic profiling to look at the DNA inside your tumor to identify any biomarkers and genetic mutations, or cell characteristics. Winship scientists, genomic- and tumor-sequencing experts will analyze what’s driving your particular form of ovarian cancer and then work with your oncologists to determine which treatment types are most likely to work for you.

Genetic counseling and testing. Because up to a quarter of all ovarian cancers are caused by inherited traits, Winship refers everyone who is diagnosed with ovarian cancer for genetic counseling and — if desired — genetic testing. Genetic testing can help your physicians design a more informed treatment plan, select the right targeted therapy for your cancer, and prevent recurrence and the development of other cancers. The information can even help you protect your family members from ovarian cancer.