Ultrasound 'outperforms symptom analysis' on ovarian cancer detection

International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Wednesday, 15th July 2009

Ultrasound techniques are better at predicting occurrences of ovarian cancer than symptom analysis, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center and Markey Cancer Center, US, found that trans-vaginal screening (TVS) detected 73.3 per cent of malignancies, compared to symptom analysis which saw only a 20 per cent sensitivity.

Ultrasound techniques are better at predicting occurrences of ovarian cancer than symptom analysis, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center and Markey Cancer Center, US, found that trans-vaginal screening (TVS) detected 73.3 per cent of malignancies, compared to symptom analysis which saw only a 20 per cent sensitivity.

Although the latter performed better for distinguishing benign tumours - 91.3 per cent against 74.4 per cent - adding symptom analysis to TVS actually resulted in poorer identification of malignancy.

The study's authors claimed the data indicates that while symptoms do identify ovarian malignancies, they are not as accurate as TVS.

In addition, they said informative symptoms can be expected to be absent in 80 percent of ovarian malignancies.

Last month, Target Ovarian Cancer claimed there is widespread confusion among GPs and women generally about ovarian cancer.

The charity suggested that four out of five doctors wrongly think women with early stage ovarian cancer do not have symptoms

Although the latter performed better for distinguishing benign tumours - 91.3 per cent against 74.4 per cent - adding symptom analysis to TVS actually resulted in poorer identification of malignancy.

The study's authors claimed the data indicates that while symptoms do identify ovarian malignancies, they are not as accurate as TVS.

In addition, they said informative symptoms can be expected to be absent in 80 percent of ovarian malignancies.

Last month, Target Ovarian Cancer claimed there is widespread confusion among GPs and women generally about ovarian cancer.

The charity suggested that four out of five doctors wrongly think women with early stage ovarian cancer do not have symptoms