The value of urocortin and Ca-125 in the diagnosis of endometrioma

Aytekin Tokmak, Mustafa Uğur, Mustafa Ugur, Ugur M, Esra Tonguc, Tonguc E, Esra Tonguç, Turgut Var, Var T, Ozlem Moraloğlu, Özlem Moraloğlu Tekın, Moraloğlu O, Gülnur Ozaksit, Ozaksit G, Gülnur Özakşit
Archives of gynecology and obstetrics · 2010 · vol. 283(5) , pp. 1075–1079 · doi:10.1007/s00404-010-1505-2 · PMID:20480172 · W2041670026
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06+body, 2026-06-28 ⓘ

This study compared serum urocortin and CA-125 levels in endometrioma patients, finding CA-125 to be statistically significant (P = 0.001) while urocortin was not (P = 0.21).

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-07, 2026-07-10 · read from full text ⓘ

This study evaluated whether serum urocortin (Ucn) could diagnose endometrioma and compared its performance with CA-125 in 88 operated patients who had an initial diagnosis of adnexal mass; 42 had pathology-confirmed endometrioma and 46 had benign ovarian cysts. Serum Ucn and CA-125 were measured from blood drawn before surgery, and the authors compared group differences and diagnostic cut-offs. Ucn levels did not significantly differ between endometrioma and control groups, whereas CA-125 levels were significantly higher in the endometrioma group; CA-125 sensitivity/specificity at a defined cut-off (21.38) were 88.1% and 63%, while Ucn at a cut-off (4.16) had 76.2% sensitivity and 45.7% specificity. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it directly tests urocortin as a diagnostic marker for endometrioma and compares it to CA-125.

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Abstract

PurposesIn this study, we sought to establish the value of a new molecule, urocortin (Ucn), in the diagnosis of endometrioma and compare with Ca-125 to identify superiority of urocortin.MethodsOf the patients operated on at our hospital with the initial diagnosis of adnexal mass, 88 patients whose pathology results were endometrioma and benign ovarian cyst were included in the study. As a result of the pathological examination, the patients were assessed in two groups. Group 1 consisted of 42 cases of endometrioma and Group 2 included 46 cases of benign ovarian cyst (control group). The serum Ucn and CA 125 levels of patients were measured from the blood samples drawn prior to the operation.ResultsWhile the serum Ucn level was 4.8 ± 1.00 ng/ml in the endometrioma group, it was 4.5 ± 1.03 ng/ml in the control group (P = 0.21). The difference was statistically not meaningful. On the other hand, mean serum Ca-125 level was 43.8 U/l (11.7-251) in the endometrioma group, it was 16.5 U/l (4.3-121.1) in the control group. The difference was statistically meaningful (P = 0.001). When the cut-off point for Serum Ca-125 level was taken as 21.38, sensitivity and specificity levels were found to be 88.1 and 63%. When the cut-off point for Ucn was taken as 4.16, sensitivity was 76.2%, and specificity 45.7%.ConclusionUcn was not found to be efficient in distinguishing endometrioma from other benign ovarian cysts or to be superior to CA125 in the diagnosis of endometrioma.
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Abstract

Purposes In this study, we sought to establish the value of a new molecule, urocortin (Ucn), in the diagnosis of endometrioma and compare with Ca-125 to identify superiority of urocortin.

Methods

Of the patients operated on at our hospital with the initial diagnosis of adnexal mass, 88 patients whose pathology results were endometrioma and benign ovarian cyst were included in the study. As a result of the pathological examination, the patients were assessed in two groups. Group 1 consisted of 42 cases of endometrioma and Group 2 included 46 cases of benign ovarian cyst (control group). The serum Ucn and CA 125 levels of patients were measured from the blood samples drawn prior to the operation.

Results

While the serum Ucn level was 4.8 ± 1.00 ng/ml in the endometrioma group, it was 4.5 ± 1.03 ng/ml in the control group (P = 0.21). The difference was statistically not meaningful. On the other hand, mean serum Ca-125 level was 43.8 U/l (11.7–251) in the endometrioma group, it was 16.5 U/l (4.3–121.1) in the control group. The difference was statistically meaningful (P = 0.001). When the cut-off point for Serum Ca-125 level was taken as 21.38, sensitivity and specificity levels were found to be 88.1 and 63%. When the cut-off point for Ucn was taken as 4.16, sensitivity was 76.2%, and specificity 45.7%.

Conclusion

Ucn was not found to be efficient in distinguishing endometrioma from other benign ovarian cysts or to be superior to CA125 in the diagnosis of endometrioma. Similar content being viewed by others

References

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Condition tags

endometriosisendometrioma

MeSH descriptors

CA-125 Antigen Endometriosis Endometriosis Urocortins Adult CA-125 Antigen Endometriosis Female Humans Middle Aged ROC Curve Urocortins Young Adult

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