Epidemiology and screening of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is the second most common neoplasm of the female reproductive system and the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancer in the United States. The overall 5-year survival rate continues to be low. Risk factors associated with ovarian cancer are age, race, nulliparity, infertility, history of endometrial or breast cancer, and family history of ovarian cancer. The diagnosis of ovarian cancer could benefit from screening. Screening methods for ovarian cancer include pelvic examination, abdominal and transvaginal sonography, color flow Doppler, and serum CA-125 levels. Sonography and CA-125 are the most promising and most extensively studied.