ANALYSIS OF THE USE OF TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN THE EARLY DETECCION OF OVARIAN CANCER

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynecological neoplasms, mainly due to late diagnosis. In this context, transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS) has been investigated as a strategy for early detection. This study carried out a literature review in databases such as PubMed, SciELO, and Wiley Online Library, including original articles, reviews, and clinical trials published up to 2025. The analysis showed that TVUS offers advantages such as low cost, non-invasiveness, and good patient acceptance, allowing the evaluation of ovarian volume and morphology. Studies demonstrated that annual screening may identify cases at early stages, enabling curative treatment and improving survival. However, diagnostic limitations related to low specificity may lead to false-positive results and unnecessary procedures. The combination with serum markers, such as CA-125, or with advanced imaging techniques, such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound, tends to increase accuracy. Although favorable evidence exists, large multicenter clinical trials have not confirmed a significant impact on population-level mortality reduction. Therefore, TVUS appears promising mainly in high-risk groups, such as women with family history or predisposing genetic mutations. It can be considered a complementary surveillance tool but should not be employed as a standalone universal screening method.