Predictive value of combined assays of urinary gonadotropin fragment (UGF) and CA 125 for ovarian carcinoma in patients with pelvic masses

SummaryTo determine the value of urinary gonadotropin fragment (UGF) alone and in combination with serum CA 125 in predicting the diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer in patients with pelvic masses, all patients attending a tertiary referral centre with a diagnosis of a pelvic mass had CA 125 and UGF assays performed pre-operatively. A cut-off of 35 u/ml was used for CA 125. The predictive value of UGF at various cut-off levels was determined alone and in combination with CA 125. Using a cut-off of 6 fmol/mg creatinine, UGF alone yielded a sensitivity of 65 per cent, a specificity of 94 per cent, a positive predictive value of 94 per cent and a negative predictive value of 69 per cent. When UGF (≥6 fmol/mg creatinine) and CA 125 (≥35 u/ml) were combined, so that elevation of either was regarded as indicative of epithelial ovarian cancer, a sensitivity of 100 per cent, specificity of 90 per cent, positive predictive value of 92 per cent and negative predictive value of 100 per cent were obtained. Combini...