The news has not improved for efforts to diagnose ovarian cancer in time for it to be treated. A new study shows that transvaginal ultrasound, which is used along with a blood test, is not reliable. The findings are troubling since the disease is known as a "silent killer" often detected after patients experience symptoms and too late for successful intervention.

The transvaginal ultrasound procedure probes for abnormalities in the ovaries and female reproductive system. The blood test is used to detect CA-125 a protein that is elevated in patients with ovarian cancer. With neither approach shown to be effective in this retrospective study, high-risk patients may need to consider having their ovaries removed to prevent the disease.

The study was conducted by researchers at Birmingham Women's Hospital, UK.

In related news, another marker for the disease is being investigated. For details, go to the article.

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