Screening for ovarian cancer not recommended

False positive cases have experts warning against conducting test

Ovarian cancer screening is not recommended for asymptomatic women, according to a recommendation issued by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently.

This is because there were false positive cases of tumours and thus unnecessary removal of ovaries in women and also unnecessary treatment of the cancer.

The two screening tests that are carried out for asymptomatic women are transvaginal ultrasound and a blood test called CA125. Both these screening tests are not recommended.

“Screening for women is recommended after the age of 50. But evidence has shown that the blood test markers, laparoscopic biopsy and other methods are showing benign tumours. Benign tumours are those that are not malignant in nature and will not spread to other parts of the body. Ovaries are found to have benign tumours. But due to these false positives, the treatment of chemotherapy and radiation is carried out which has severe sideeffects. Hence screening for ovarian cancer is not recommended at all,” says Dr Sai Ram, senior oncologist at MNJ Cancer Hospital.

Ovarian cancer screening is carried out for those who have a family history of breast and cervical cancer. Those who have the BRACA genes are also subjected to this screening.

Dr Geeta Narsagee, senior surgical oncologist, says ovarian cancer screening is recommended only for high risk groups.

“High risk groups are those where the women in the family have a history of cancer. But the new guidelines are asking us not to carry out any of these tests.

Ovarian cancer is hard to detect. There is still more research required to understand this cancer,” she said.

Women with BRACA genes are often asked to remove their ovaries to avoid the cancer but that has not helped, according to various research studies.

In 2016, three clinical trials showed that screening tests were not effective as there were wrong conclusions leading to unnecessary treatment.