Ovarian cancer screening with cancer antigen (CA-125) and transvaginal ultrasound does not reduce the risk of death from ovarian cancer, reports a study in the June 8, 2011, issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association, a special theme issue on cancer. 

A Randomized Controlled Trial including 78,216 women aged 55 to 74 years at 10 U.S. screening centers enrolled between 1993 and 2001,  consisted of annual CA-125 testing for 6 years and transvaginal ultrasound for 4 years. . 

At a maximum follow-up of 13 years, mortality from ovarian cancer was compared between groups. The incidence of ovarian cancer and complications related to screening and diagnostic tests were evaluated as well.
The incidence of diagnosed ovarian cancer was not significantly different between the screening and usual care groups: 5.7 versus 4.7 per 10,000 person-years, respectively. Ovarian cancer mortality was also similar: 3.1 and 2.6 per 10,000 person-years, respectively.

Moreover, In the screening group 3,285 women had false-positive results, leading to surgical follow-up in 1,080.  Among women undergoing surgical follow-up, 15% had at least 1 serious complication. The trial results show no reduction in ovarian cancer mortality among women assigned to screening by CA125 and transvaginale US, compared with usual medical care. The rate of ovarian cancer diagnosis is only marginally increased, while false-positive screening leads to serious complications in a significant number of patients. .