Pre-Ca: Can an ovarian tumor be missed on an ultrasound?

Can an ovarian tumor be missed on an ultrasound?

The doc is saying the tumor removed during my hysterectomy was not seen back in June at all and that it grew very fast...I believe that this can happen, but can they miss seeing them too?

The ultrasound said I had a normal size uterus when it was huge!

Trying to figure this out...anyone out there have an incorrect ultrasound? Just wondering if this is a possibility.

Thanks ladies!

Fibroids on uterus were missed and dr said ovaries had many cysts. Also, there were adhesions above ovaries. None of these were ever mentioned on previous ultrasounds.

My ultrasound showed I had a large submucous fibroid but nothing else. The pathology report showed I also had a benign tumor on my right ovary and adenomyosis. The ovarian tumor didn't show up on the MRI either. Don't know if it was hidden somehow or what. But glad I made the decision before surgery to have them just take it all.

ultrasounds do not pick up all ovarian tumours/masses, if they are large they do pick them up, but if they are small an ultrasound will not see them.
The earliest way to pick a cancerous tumour up is with a PET scan and even they can miss them when they are early.

I had 3 ultrasounds over 4 years before I was advised there was any problem (after the third.)

One thing I always wondered about: on the 1st US there was one small fibroid noticed. On the 2nd, 2 small fibroids were mentioned. On the 3rd a thickened lining and 2 small fibroids were noted. On the final pathology after surgery, one small fibroid and one small mass (the cancer) were listed.

I wonder if the new "fibroid" mentioned in the 2nd US was in fact the cancer starting. I suppose someone scrutinizing all my reports might be able to figure it out, but it's water under the bridge now.

Yes, they can miss things.

I supposedly had the left ovary removed 5 years ago. Had 2 recent ultrasounds and they did peek at the left side out of routine. When he got in for surgery, he found a "nodular" ovary and 2 endometriomas on the left side.

I know early ovarian tumors can definitely be missed on ultrsound.
I do have a question though... for those who have hysterectomy but leave the ovaries - is it safe to say that the surgeon's view of the ovaries during surgery ensures that there were no tumors at that time? I suppose on a cellular level he could not be sure - but if there is no visible sign, is that good reassurance? Thanks so much!

I would think that an ultrasound might tell more than a surgeon.
(A surgeon can only tell what the ovary looks like on the outside. An ultrasound can tell more about the inside.)
Which is why, with endometrial cancer, if the tumour has invaded more than
50% of the myometrium they suggest that the surgeon remove all the pelvic lymph nodes, irregardless of whether they appear normal.
Mine all appeared normal, but since my cancer had invaded 2/3 of the way through the myometrium, they removed all the lymph nodes and found two that had mets in them.
Lymph nodes are much smaller than ovaries.

Why are you worried about your ovaries?

Family history and mildly elevate CA125s. The blood/CA125 went to normal when I went on the birth control pill (after 6 months abnormal). I was advised to keep the ovaries since I did not test + for the gene my family has (even though I had bc at 37). Hope I did the right thing. Both the ultrasound and surgeon inspection said normal ovaries.... ??

I can see where that would be a concern. (by BC do you mean breast cancer?)
The blood ca125 is clearly age related. Since you have ovaries, have you gone through menopause? When you say mildly elevated, what do you mean? I have done a lot of reading lately about the CA 125 and the different levels that are normal in different situations.
I guess if I were you, I would want the ovaries out, however I do not know how old you are, and I guess that was likely a factor in them advising you to keep your ovaries.