Ovarian thecoma associated with a large quantity of ascites and elevated serum CA 125 and CA 15-3.

BACKGROUND: Elevation of tumour marker CA (cancer antigen) 125 associated with Meigs' or atypical Meigs' syndrome is widely recognized. Other tumour markers are available to assist in distinguishing between benign and malignant ovarian masses in the preoperative diagnosis.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 57-year-old woman presented with a suspicious pelvic mass and abundant ascites. Preoperative tumour markers CA 125 and CA 15-3 were elevated at 1750 U/mL and 60 U/mL, respectively. The woman underwent surgery, and 9 L of straw-coloured ascites were drained along with a solid-cystic ovarian mass. The final pathology disclosed an ovarian thecoma. Six months later, both tumour markers were normal.

CONCLUSION: This first report of 2 elevated tumour markers associated with atypical Meigs' syndrome cautions us not to rely on tumour markers to differentiate benign from malignant masses.