guidelines

ovarian cancer: recognition & initial management (nice cg122)

a primary-care pathway for suspected ovarian cancer: symptom recognition, ca125 testing, ultrasound sequencing, referral thresholds, and safety-netting based on nice cg122.

last reviewed: 2026-02-13
based on: NICE CG122 (published 27 Apr 2011; last updated 2 Oct 2023)
reviewer: Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGP
view official NICE source

Pragmatic safety net

Frequently asked questions

Does CA125 diagnose ovarian cancer?
No. CA125 is a triage test in symptomatic women; raised CA125 needs ultrasound follow-up, and normal CA125 does not rule out cancer if symptoms persist.
What is the key CG122 testing sequence?
CA125 first; if CA125 ≥35 IU/ml then ultrasound; if ultrasound suspicious then urgent referral.

Transparency

This page is an educational, clinician-written summary of publicly available NICE guidance intended for trained healthcare professionals. It uses original wording (not copied text) and should be used alongside the full NICE source, local pathways, and clinical judgement. Doses provided are for general reference; always check the BNF/SPC.