Misleading and dangerous dyspeptic disorders

Ovarian cancer is often fatal because it is usually advanced when diagnosed. It mainly affects perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. The average age at diagnosis is 63 years. The risk of ovarian cancer increases with a history of ovarian cancer in a first-degree relative, nulliparity, delayed childbearing, early menarche, delayed menopause, personal or family history of endometrial, breast or colon cancer. Most ovarian cancers develop from epithelial cells; the rest (germ cell tumors, sex cord stromal tumors) develop from other types of ovarian cells). Evaluation usually includes ultrasound, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, biopsy and measurement of tumor markers. Treatment requires hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, chemotherapy, cytoreduction. Ovarian cancer may be asymptomatic or symptoms may be nonspecific (e.g. dyspepsia, early satiety, bloating, changes in bowel habits, urinary frequency) which may lead to misdiagnosis of other conditions and death of the patient.