JoVE - Journal of Visualized Experiments
JoVE Visualize
Contact Us

Assessing the rates of false-positive ovarian cancer screenings and surgical interventions associated with screening tools: a systematic review

  • 0Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.
Bmj Oncology +

|

January 31, 2025

|

January 31, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

False-positive ovarian cancer screenings lead to many unnecessary surgeries. This review found significant variability in screening accuracy and high rates of invasive procedures, causing complications like perforation and bowel injury.

Area Of Science

  • Oncology
  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Diagnostic Accuracy

Background

  • Early detection of ovarian cancer is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
  • Screening tests for ovarian cancer can result in false positives, leading to unnecessary surgical interventions.
  • Understanding the prevalence of these false positives is vital for refining screening protocols.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To systematically review the prevalence of false-positive ovarian cancer screenings.
  • To determine the rate of unnecessary surgical interventions resulting from false-positive screening results.
  • To analyze screening variability across different patient risk groups.

Main Methods

  • Systematic review of primary literature published between 2003 and 2024.
  • Searched five databases in March 2023 and March 2024.
  • Included studies reporting surgical interventions from false-positive screening results, categorized by patient risk (average vs. high).

Main Results

  • Twelve papers were included, mostly US-based cohort studies.
  • Screening methods included Cancer antigen 125 and transvaginal ultrasound.
  • False-positive rates ranged from 0.1% to 23.3%, and surgical rates from 0% to 54.9%, with significant variability regardless of risk.
  • Complications like perforation and bowel injury were reported in only four studies.

Conclusions

  • Ovarian cancer screening exhibits significant variability in results.
  • False positives frequently lead to unnecessary, invasive surgical procedures.
  • These interventions carry risks of complications, including perforation, blood loss, and bowel injury.

Keywords: