Purpose: To evaluate the importance of CA-19-9 as an aiding tool in the diagnosis of mature cystic teratomas.
Methods: We found 43 cases of dermoid cysts that were operated on at our clinic, and whose tumor marker CA 19-9 was studied before the operation.
Results: Thirty-seven of 43 patients (86%) had elevated CA 19-9 levels. Using Pearson's correlation, the average diameter and weight of the tumor had a strong possitive correlation with the level of CA 19-9 (p < 0.01). Thirty-one out of the 43 (72%) cases had a dermoid cyst in the right ovary, nine (20.9%) in the left ovary, and three (7%) had bilateral dermoid cysts. Right predominancy was very high among the patients (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: We suggest that besides ultrasonography and computed tomography, serum CA 19-9 level could be a useful tumor marker in the diagnosis of dermoid cysts.