JAMA Surg

One in four women missed an opportunity for preventive surgery before ovarian cancer diagnosis

August 18, 2025

Study details: Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study and a national patient survey to assess missed opportunities for ovarian cancer prevention in patients with high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). Missed opportunities were defined as: (1) permanent contraception or abdominopelvic surgery at age ≥45 without salpingectomy, and (2) lack of genetic testing or RRBSO in patients with familial risk or pathogenic mutations.

Results: Among the retrospective cohort, 23.7% had missed surgical opportunities for salpingectomy, with 54.2% involving sterilization procedures and 45.8% other abdominal surgeries. In the survey group, 15.5% reported missed surgical opportunities. Additionally, 43.2% of patients with a first-degree relative affected by ovarian cancer missed genetic testing and risk-reducing surgery.

Clinical impact: With no effective screening for ovarian cancer, integrating opportunistic salpingectomy and genetic testing into routine care is critical. Structural barriers—such as consent requirements and lack of provider awareness—must be addressed through EHR prompts, education, and policy changes to reduce missed preventive opportunities.

Source:

Moufarrij S, et al. (2025, August 13). JAMA Surg. Gauging the Magnitude of Missed Opportunity for Ovarian Cancer Prevention. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40802262/