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Early detection and screening for ovarian cancer
Author(s) -
Schwartz Peter E.,
Chambers Joseph T.,
Taylor Kenneth J.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of cellular biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.028
H-Index - 165
eISSN - 1097-4644
pISSN - 0730-2312
DOI - 10.1002/jcb.240590932
Subject(s) - medicine , ovarian cancer , gynecology , cancer , cervix , breast cancer , oncology
Ovarian cancer is associated with potmenopausal women on North Ameican or European descent, nulliparous women, and women with a first‐degree relative with an epithelial overaina cancer. Methods for early detection of ovarian cancer are the pelvic examination, ultrasound techniques, and CA‐125 monitoring, none of which are highly sensitive or specific for the disease. At the Yale‐New Haven Medical Center, first‐degree relatives of women with epithelial ovarian cancer were invited to participate in an intense ovarian cancer screening program consisting of tumor markers, endovaginal ultrasound and color Doppler flow studies, and physical examinations performed in a serial fashion. The false‐postive rate for the tumor markers varied from 2 to 9% at initial evaluation of the first 247 participants. Endovaginal ultrasound and color Doppler flow techniques were used to evaluate 326 ovaries in 169 womens. Resistive indices < 0.5 were present in 26 ovaries (8.4%) and peak systolic velocities > 30 cm/sec occurred in 7 ovaries (2.3%). To date, four breast cancers have been detected, three cervical intraepithelial neoplasias have been identified, and three atypical adenomatous hyperplasias were diagnosed. No epithelial ovarian cancer was found. Isolated screening for ovarian cancer even in high‐risk womed is not cost effective. Women screened for ovarian cancer should also be evaluated for cancers of the breast, cervix, colon rectum and endometrium. Isolated abnormal screening test values are not an indication for surgery.