Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in American women and the most common cause of death from pelvic gynecological malignancy. Most ovarian cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage, at a point at which cure is unlikely. The earliest available screening modalities for ovarian cancer, and ones that should be carefully used, are a thorough history and physical examination. Transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasound have been studied as possible noninvasive screening tools for the identification of early ovarian cancer. In conclusion, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States. However, several studies are ongoing both to identify new screening modalities and to determine whether current screening techniques can result in a reduction in ovarian cancer mortality rates.