Objective: To assess the relationship between benign gynaecological disorders and ovarian cancer (OC).
Methods: This retrospective observational study enrolled female patients with histologically-confirmed primary OC. Clinical and demographic data were collected using a questionnaire. Blood samples were analysed for tumour biomarker levels including cancer antigen (CA)-125, CA19-9, carcinoembryonic antigen, β human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
Results: A total of 100 female patients were enrolled in the study. Of these, 44 patients had simple ovarian cysts (44%), 22 had uterine fibroids (22%), 15 had adenomyosis (15%), 13 had pelvic inflammatory disease (13%) and six had endometriosis (6%). There was a significant association between high grade serous OC histology with both benign ovarian and uterine diseases. There was a significant association between both adenomyosis and uterine fibroids and high grade OC. There was also a significant association between endometriosis and stages III/IV OC. With regard to tumour biomarkers, there was a significant association between β-hCG and LDH biomarkers and benign uterine tumours.
Conclusion: Benign gynaecological diseases are accompanied by the high risk of the development of OC. Common benign gynaecological diseases associated with OC were uterine fibroids and adenomyosis.
Keywords: Benign gynaecological diseases; Sulaimaniyah; ovarian cancer; retrospective study.