Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase may enable early diagnosis of ovarian cancer

A case of endometrioid ovarian carcinoma associated with elevated levels of serum placental-like alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) is presented. Two and a h alf years before a final diagnosis was made following explorative laparotom y, an incidental blood test revealed elevated alkaline phosphatase in the p atient's serum. A thorough investigation for the source of this elevation w as negative. Postoperative immunohistochemical staining of the tumor, showe d diffuse stain with PLAP, along with gradual decline to normal values of s erum total alkaline phosphatase. It is suggested, that whenever serum alkal ine phosphatase is elevated due to unknown reason, an investigation includi ng alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes, serum Ca-125, trans-vaginal pelvic sono gram and even diagnostic laparosopy, should be considered in a search for e arly preclinical ovarian cancer. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.