Diagnostic Efficacy of the Risk of Malignancy Index in Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer

Kim, Ji Eun; Seo, Ki Yun; Park, Choong Hak; Park, Jin Wan

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a risk of malignancy index (RMI) for early detection of ovarian cancer in patients with adnexal masses.
METHODS
The preoperative RMI was obtained from 497 women who have visited our hospital between September 1994 and December 2004. The RMI is based on menopausal status, ultrasonographic findings, and serum CA-125 level. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of each variable and the RMI were evaluated to distinguish between malignant and benign pelvic masses.
RESULTS
The sensitivity and specificity of RMI was 42.85% and 88.57%. PPV and NPV was 40.74% and 92.11% for the total material. The RMI is more accurate statistically than the menopausal status, serum CA-125 levels separately in diagnosing malignancy, but the ultrasound features is more accurate than RMI in diagnosing malignancy.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggests that RMI is not good as a primary screening tool for early detection of ovarian cancer because of its low sensitivity and low NPV than ultrasound. So further study is needed to support the diagnostic efficacy of RMI.