Early diagnosis of gynecologic cancer

Malignant gynecologic neoplasms comprise about 15% of cancers in American females. Analysis of cancer treatment results indicates that the most important prognostic factor is stage of disease; thus any strategy to improve survival must include early diagnosis. This can be accomplished by identification of the women at risk, adequate use of screening techniques, updating the primary care physician with clinical and laboratory diagnostic features, and prompt referral to the subspecialist. This approach should drastically reduce the incidence and mortality of invasive gynecologic cancers.