The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has officially reaffirmed its 2004 recommendation against screening asymptomatic women for ovarian cancer. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the statement concludes that “there is at least moderate certainty” that the potential harms of screening outweigh any possible benefit.

The recommendation does not apply to women with genetic mutations known to increase ovarian cancer risk.

Writing in Journal Watch Women’s Health, Andrew Kaunitz writes: “Patients regularly ask if they should be screened for ovarian cancer. Consistent with its previous guidance, the USPSTF’s answer remains an unqualified no.”

Source:Annals of Internal Medicine