REPLY
Screening for Ovarian Cancer
Karen J. Carlson and
Daniel E. Singer
15 January 1995 | Volume 122 Issue 2 | Page 155
IN RESPONSE:
One reason for doing a bimanual pelvic examination to screen for ovarian cancer in asymptomatic women is the possibility that a highly skilled examiner may detect early-stage ovarian cancer, although only limited scientific evidence suggests that even highly skilled examiners can detect this cancer. Lacking better data, our clinical practice is to make an individualized decision about how frequently to do a screening bimanual pelvic examination for each woman. This decision considers the patient's risk factors for ovarian cancer, preferences, factors affecting the accuracy of the examination (such as obesity), and comorbid illnesses and their complexity. In practice, the need to do a pelvic examination for other clinical reasons frequently provides an opportunity to examine the ovaries periodically.
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