Apparently, it is different as it still requires an ultrasound...

Apparently, it is different as it still requires an ultrasound to detect abnormalities.

https://www.medicaldevice-network.com/news/blood-test-ovarian-cancer-biomarker/

The blood test is designed to beused in cases where an ultrasound has already detected abnormalities, toidentify whether or not the patient in question has ovarian cancer.

Routine use of this test ispredicted to reduce the cancer rate in ovarian surgery from one in five to onein three. This could greatly reduce the number of unnecessary surgeries carriedout and provide peace of mind to patients.

Ovarian cancer is typicallydiscovered at a late stage and has a high mortality rate, with only 30-40% ofpatients surviving five years after diagnosis. However, patients have a 90%chance of survival if the disease is caught early.

Asyet, there has been no routine test specific enough to allow for adequatescreening. Patients with suspected ovarian cancer willinstead undergo an ultrasound, and if abnormalities are detected surgery is theonly way to ensure all potential malignancy is found and removed. This meansmany undergo surgery despite having non-cancerous complications that could havebeen treated through non-invasive means.

University of Gothernburgprofessor Karin Sundfeldt said: “We need to develop more accurate pre-surgerydiagnostics. To detect one cancer, we operate on up to five women – yet this iscurrently the best option when abnormalities are detected by ultrasound andcancer is suspected. There is a greatneed for a simple blood test that could identify women who do not needsurgery.”

Ovarian CancerAction chief executive Cary Wakefield said: “This early stage research isexciting as we know early detection of ovarian cancer is vital in giving womenthe best chance of survival but, unlike so many other cancers, there is currently no screening toolavailable worldwide.”