Recently, results of large-scale, case-control study regarding the predictive value of OSI were published.3 Researchers conducted an in-person interview with 812 women with epithelial ovarian cancer or borderline tumor and 1,313 population-based control subjects. Although OSI was more frequently positive in women with ovarian cancer than in control, the interval from symptom onset to diagnosis was shorter than six months in over 70% women. The sensitivity and specificity of OSI was 68% and 95%, respectively. The estimated positive predictive value of OSI based on the assumed prevalence of ovarian cancer was about 1%. In other words, only one of 100 women with positive OSI actually had an ovarian cancer.

Although OSI would trigger unnecessary medical evaluations in 99 of 100 women with positive OSI, the OSI still could play a role in screening of ovarian cancer. Specifically, the OSI could improve the cost-effectiveness of ovarian cancer screening programs using CA-125 and ultrasonography (USG). For example, in the PLCO trial, nearly 29,000 women underwent CA-125 and USG to detect 29 malignant ovarian, tubal or peritoneal tumors.4 If the OSI was examined in women participating in PLCO trial, 20 of 29 women with malignant tumors would have positive OSI (68% sensitivity). In addition, to detect 20 women with positive OSI and malignant tumors, only 2,000 women should undergo CA-125 and USG (positive predictive value 1%).

In our study, all patients in ovarian cancer arm had an epithelial ovarian cancer. Borderline ovarian tumor and non-epithelial ovarian cancer were not included in our study.

Although there is no definitive evidence supporting the benefit of OSI, we believe that the OSI should be regularly performed by the women herself like a self-breast examination because the OSI do not require any resources and is potentially beneficial. Considering the low incidence of ovarian cancer, we believe that OSI could be useful in screening of ovarian cancer. More studies on OSI in Korean women are necessary.