Screening for Familial Ovarian Cancer: Failure of Current Protocols to Detect Ovarian Cancer at an Early Stage According to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics System

Abstract

Annual surveillance by transvaginal ultrasound scanning and serum CA-125 measurement in women at increased familial risk of ovarian cancer is ineffective in detecting tumors at a sufficiently early stage to influence prognosis. With a positive predictive value of 17% and a sensitivity of less than 50%, the performance of ultrasound does not satisfy the WHO screening standards. In addition, the combined protocol has a particularly high false-positive rate in premenopausal women, leading to unnecessary surgical intervention.