In this Article

• What is CA 125?
• How is CA 125 measured?
• What is the normal range for CA 125?
• What does an elevated CA 125 mean, and how is the test used?
• What conditions other than ovarian cancer can cause an increased CA 125?
• Is CA 125 testing useful as a cancer screening test?
• CA 125 Index

Is CA 125 testing useful as a cancer screening test?

Although CA 125 is a useful test in monitoring women who are being treated for ovarian cancer, a single CA 125 test is not considered to be a useful screening test for cancer. Some women with ovarian cancer (up to 20%) never have elevated CA 125 levels, while most women who do have elevated CA 125 levels do not have cancer. In fact, because CA 125 can be elevated in so many non-cancerous conditions, only about 3% of women with elevated CA 125 levels have ovarian cancer.

REFERENCE:

Hussain, Fazal. "Gynecologic Tumor Markers." eMedicine. Mar. 30, 2009. <http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/269839-overview>.

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