The recent results of the United Kingdom Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening, the largest ovarian cancer screening trial in history, were unsettling. Since 2011, many national-level organizations worldwide have endorsed opportunistic salpingectomy as a practical, population-level approach to ovarian cancer prevention. Fallopian tube removal for ovarian cancer prevention was publicized in recent media coverage; however, a path forward was not presented.9 The medical community’s vision and execution of increasing knowledge of and access to ovarian cancer prevention by salpingectomy must be grounded in science, equity, and patient safety. Forging the standard of care for salpingectomy in ovarian cancer prevention will be a significant effort that requires radical collaboration between gynecologic and nongynecologic surgeons in ways that transform surgical culture. Expansion of opportunistic salpingectomy for the surgical prevention of ovarian cancer in the US will save lives, but to do so, adeptly overcoming the evident and unforeseen obstacles is mission critical.

Source: New York Times June 01, 2023 15:04 UTC