CA 125 in the management of endometriosis

P R Koninckx, Koninckx PR, Philippe R. Koninckx, Muyldermans M, M Muyldermans, C Meuleman, Christel Meuleman, Meuleman C, Cornillie FJ, Freddy Cornillie, F J Cornillie
European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology · 1993 · vol. 49(1-2) , pp. 109–113 · doi:10.1016/0028-2243(93)90134-x · PMID:8365504 · W1989604155
review OA: bronze CC0 ⤵ 18 in-corpus citations
🔓 Open OA copy View on OpenAlex View on PubMed View at publisher
⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

This paper reviews the utility of CA 125 as a biomarker for the diagnosis, monitoring, and management of endometriosis.

One-sentence paraphrase of the abstract; not a substitute for reading it. No clinical advice. How this works

Abstract

CA 125 is expressed by eutopic and ectopic endometrium. In women with advanced endometriosis, plasma concentrations are increased towards the end of the luteal phase and during menstruation but not during the follicular and early luteal phases. In women without endometriosis, such cyclic changes of CA 125 in plasma are not observed. In women with cystic ovarian endometriosis, plasma CA 125 concentrations are markedly elevated. Measurement of CA 125 in ovarian cyst fluid is the method of choice to differentiate a cystic corpus luteum from an ovarian endometriotic cyst, a frequent and difficult clinical problem. CA 125 can be used to diagnose deeply infiltrating endometriosis with a sensitivity of 36% and a specificity of 87%. These figures underestimate the clinical importance, since plasma CA 125 concentrations are mainly important for the diagnosis of deeply infiltrating endometriosis types II and III, which are the most severe forms and which are clinically easily missed. Because of the strong association of deep endometriosis and pelvic pain, the assay of CA 125 in plasma may be advocated in all women with unexplained pelvic pain as an aid in the diagnosis of deeply infiltrating endometriosis. Following surgical excision of endometriosis, CA 125 can be used to monitor the completeness of surgery.

My notes (saved in your browser only)

Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate Endometriosis Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate Ascitic Fluid Ascitic Fluid Biomarkers, Tumor Biomarkers, Tumor Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Sensitivity and Specificity Time Factors

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (14)

Cited by (18)

Source provenance

europepmc
last seen: 2026-07-27T06:15:28.040536+00:00
openalex
last seen: 2026-06-10T17:14:06.276822+00:00
pubmed
last seen: 2026-05-13T22:11:39.448046+00:00
License: CC0 · commercial use OK