Screening for gynecologic cancer.

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.