Malignant Neoplasms, Staging of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system and accounts for 4% of all female cancers. In 2010, an estimated 1 in 71 women in the United States will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime with an estimated 13,850 deaths (Cancer Facts and Figures 2010). However, death rates for ovarian cancer have been decreasing by 1.4% per year since 2002 which is partly due to accurate staging of ovarian carcinoma which is vital for the appropriate management and counseling of patients. Identifying the volume and locations of tumor is valuable in planning percutaneous tissue biopsy and triaging patients to either primary cytoreductive surgery, or primary platinum-based chemotherapy. This chapter will discuss the classification, risk factors, current imaging modalities, and staging of ovarian cancer to provide a comprehensive overview for the clinical radiologist.