Ovarian cancer risk among older patients with stable adnexal masses
Conventional management of ovarian masses for women aged 50 years or more has been surveillance with serial ultrasounds. These masses are common, usually benign, may be cystic or solid, and also can be seen with endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease.
This retrospective study looked at the incidence of ovarian cancer for 4000 women, who had been noted to have an ovarian mass, which was stable in size and appearance on repeat ultrasound examination after 6 weeks.
Over the follow up period for these women, which was for about 4 years, there was a very low incidence of ovarian cancer with 11 cancers detected, which is about half the number which would be expected for women of this age.
The implication is that active surveillance is unnecessary and scarce resources can be used for other purposes.
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