Ovarian Cancer Screeings Not Worth Risk, Panel Says

Does not reduce deaths

Healthy women shouldn't take screening tests to spot ovarian cancer, a U.S. panel said, updating and reaffirming its 2004 recommendation against the procedure.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reviewed studies that have been conducted since its earlier recommendation and found that ovarian cancer screening using transvaginal ultrasound and a blood test called CA-125 doesn't reduce the number of deaths from the disease, according to the recommendation published yesterday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. In particular, a U.S. study last year of 78,216 women found that those who were screened didn't have a lower death rate from the cancer than women who weren't tested.