Prevalence screening for ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women by CA 125 measurement and ultrasonography.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the performance of the sequential combination of serum CA 125 measurement and ultrasonography in screening for ovarian cancer.


METHODS
The serum CA 125 concentration of each subject was determined and those with a concentration > or = 30 U/ml were recalled for abdominal ultrasonography. If ultrasonography gave abnormal results surgical investigation was arranged. Volunteers were followed up by annual postal questionnaire.


METHODS
General practice, occupational health departments, ovarian cancer screening clinic.


METHODS
22,000 women volunteers who were postmenopausal and aged over 45 years.


METHODS
Apparent sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, years of cancer detected.


RESULTS
41 women had a positive screening result and were investigated surgically. 11 had ovarian cancer (true positive result) and 30 had other disorders or no abnormality (false positive result). Of the 21,959 volunteers with a negative screening result, eight subsequently presented clinically with ovarian cancer (false negative result) and 21,951 had not developed ovarian cancer during follow up (apparent true negative result). The screening protocol achieved a specificity of 99.9%, a positive predictive value of 26.8%, and an apparent sensitivity of 78.6% and 57.9% at one year and two year follow up respectively. The estimated number of years of cancer detected by the prevalence screen was 1.4 years.


CONCLUSIONS
This screening protocol is highly specific for ovarian cancer and can detect a substantial proportion of cases at a preclinical stage. Further investigation is required to determine the effect of the screening protocol on the ratio of early to late stage disease detected and on mortality from ovarian cancer.
Jacobs
I
I
Gynaecological Oncology Unit, Royal London Hospital.
Davies
A P
AP
Bridges
J
J
Stabile
I
I
Fay
T
T
Lower
A
A
Grudzinskas
J G
JG
Oram
D
D
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate