title: Screening for gynecologic cancer.
abstract: Screening for cancer of the uterus, cervix, and ovary allows earlier detection of disease in some asymptomatic women. The screening tests commonly used have low false-negative rates and, with the exception of endometrial biopsy and endometrial washings in detection of uterine cancer, they have high false-positive rates. Conclusions concerning effectiveness of screening tests in improving the likelihood of a favorable outcome are difficult because there are no randomized trials. Without randomized trials, cost-benefit analysis of screening for gynecologic malignancies is imprecise.
authors.affiliation: Kaiser Permanente Medical Group-Fontana, Fontana, California, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pretorius
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control