Ovarian Cancer Screening

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What is ovarian cancer screening? " пїЅ Ovarian cancer screening is a way in which doctors look for early signs of ovarian cancer in women who have no symptoms of the disease. To screen for ovarian cancer, doctors can do a blood test called CA 125, an imaging test called an ultrasound, or both. These tests are not very accurate, but doctors sometimes recommend them for women who are at high risk of ovarian cancer. Experts do NOT recommend ovarian cancer screening for women who are not at high risk. пїЅ пїЅ

The goal of screening is to find cancer early, before it has a chance to grow, spread, or cause problems. Unfortunately, there is no good proof that screening for ovarian cancer actually helps women live longer. пїЅ пїЅ

How does ovarian cancer screening work? " пїЅ Screening can involve a blood test, an ultrasound, or both. The blood test used most often is called CA 125. Other tests are also available or being studied. пїЅ пїЅ

CA 125 blood tests " пїЅ CA 125 is a protein in the blood that goes up when a woman has ovarian cancer. The trouble is, this protein also goes up when a woman has other health problems that do not involve cancer. The test can help find ovarian cancer, but it is not very accurate.
Pelvic ultrasound " пїЅ During a pelvic ultrasound, an ultrasound technician will insert a small device similar to a tampon into your vagina. The device uses sound waves to create images of the inside of your body. Ultrasounds can find abnormal growths on the ovaries, but they cannot tell whether the growths are caused by cancer. Sometimes less serious health problems, or even normal changes that happen during a womans menstrual cycle, can cause these "growths. " пїЅ

Who should be screened for ovarian cancer? " пїЅ It is not clear who, if anyone, should be screened for ovarian cancer. For now, experts agree that: пїЅ пїЅ

Screening is NOT appropriate for women at low risk. This includes women who do not have a family history of ovarian cancer or a cancer gene (described below).
Screening is sometimes appropriate for women who still have their ovaries and who are at high risk. This includes women who have a family history of ovarian cancer or a gene that increases their risk of ovarian cancer. Women at highest risk include those who have had genetic tests showing that they:Carry genes known as the "BRCA " пїЅ genesHave a genetic condition called Lynch syndrome (also called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer or "HNPCC " пїЅ)

If you have a family history of ovarian cancer or have genes that put you at risk, discuss the pros and cons of screening with your doctor. Decide, with input from your doctor, if screening is right for you. пїЅ пїЅ

What are the benefits of being screened for ovarian cancer? " пїЅ The main benefit of screening is that it might help doctors find cancer early, when it should be easier to treat. This might lower the chances of dying of ovarian cancer. пїЅ пїЅ

What are the drawbacks to being screened for ovarian cancer? " пїЅ The main drawback of being screened is that it can lead to "false positives, " пїЅ meaning that screening indicates that a woman might have cancer when she does not. This can lead to unneeded worry and to more tests. Sometimes, a false positive test could lead to unneeded surgery. пїЅ пїЅ

What happens after screening? " пїЅ After ovarian cancer screening, you should get a phone call or letter with your results. If you do not hear back about your results within 2 weeks, call your doctor or nurse's office. Do not assume that your screening test was normal if you hear nothing. пїЅ пїЅ

What if my screening test is abnormal? " пїЅ If your test is abnormal, don't panic. Many women who have abnormal results turn out NOT to have ovarian cancer. You will need more tests to find out whether or not you actually have cancer. пїЅ пїЅ

Most women with abnormal results find out they do not have cancer after further testing. But some women with abnormal results (in 1 study, about 1 in 3 women) need surgery to know for sure if they have cancer. This surgery is usually done through small incisions, using a tool called a "laparoscope. " пїЅ пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 16188 Version 3.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.206 пїЅ пїЅ

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Ovarian Cancer Screening

The Basics

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

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