Cancer Evaluation

Evaluation of patients for ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancers requires multiple approaches, including examination by a physician, imaging studies, and blood tests. When used alone, physical examination is not sensitive for detection of these cancers. In addition, a thorough history of symptoms and family history of cancers aids the clinician in workup when suspicion of such malignancies arises. Because symptoms that these cancer patients experience and report are so vague, these cancers are often not detected until the tumor has already manifested regional or distant metastases.

Section Topics

Updated: June 8, 2018

Suggested Citation

SEER Training Modules: Cancer Evaluation. U.S. National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. Cited 07 January 2026. Available from: https://training.seer.cancer.gov.