CHAMGAP
VERIFIEDPassed the Codex final verification and publication gate. Evidence-verification cutoff: 2026-07-24. AI was used for research and drafting; the existence of all 2 cited sources was verified at the original page, followed by blind grading, adversarial audit, and build validation. Methodology v1.0.
Verdict No. 1720 · Search date 2026-07-24 · Methodology v1.0

CA-125 plus transvaginal ultrasound,
does it really help with Earlier detection and lower ovarian or tubal cancer mortality?

30-Second Summary
D
Evidence Grade D · 22 · Safety caution
Earlier-stage detection increased, but lower ovarian cancer mortality remains unproven
In UKCTOCS, false-positive surgery occurred in 488 MMS participants (0.97%) and 1,634 USS participants (3.25%); major complications occurred in 15 of 488 (3.1%) and 57 of 1,634 (3.5%). In PLCO, 1,080 of 3,285 false-positive participants underwent surgery and 163 (15%) had major complications.
What the
research shows
Population screening with CA-125 and transvaginal ultrasound to lower ovarian cancer mortality is rated D. UKCTOCS randomized 202,638 women and analyzed 202,562; ovarian or tubal cancer mortality with multimodal screening was HR 0.96 (95% CI 0.83 to 1.10). PLCO randomized 78,216 and included 68,557 in the ovarian cancer analysis, with RR 1.18 (0.82 to 1.71). Both primary endpoints failed, but the confidence intervals do not exclude mortality reductions of 17% to 18%, so this is unproven rather than repeatedly refuted.
What the
ads claim
Earlier stage detection is presented as conclusive evidence of longer survival.
*

Useful facts when choosing a product

  • This verdict concerns population screening of asymptomatic women at average risk.
  • CA-125 can rise in benign disease and remain normal in early cancer.
ID

Chamgap Semantic Classification Code

Candidate index · review held

P.ca-125-plus-transvaginal-ultrasound-ovarian-cancer-screening-in-asymptomatic-women-at-average-risk.diagnostic.earlier-detection-and-lower-ovarian-or-tubal-cancer-mortality.reduce.UNK

Procedures, devices and tests > CA-125 plus transvaginal-ultrasound ovarian cancer screening in asymptomatic women at average risk > Diagnostic or screening > Earlier detection and lower ovarian or tubal cancer mortality > Reduction claim > Unknown

An automated migration candidate, not an issued permanent code; exact claim scope remains under review. This machine-generated migration candidate helps retrieval but is not a permanent assignment. The original verdict ID and URL remain authoritative.

Download semantic index (JSON) · Codebook v1

Gap Measurement · Verdict 1720 · D 22
What advertising claims
What independent, higher-quality research supports
△ GAP
01

What the research actually shows

UKCTOCS randomized 202,638 women and analyzed 202,562; ovarian or tubal cancer mortality with multimodal screening was HR 0.96 (95% CI 0.83 to 1.10). PLCO randomized 78,216 and included 68,557 in the ovarian cancer analysis, with RR 1.18 (0.82 to 1.71). Both primary endpoints failed, but respectively did not exclude 17% and 18% mortality reductions. No single pooled estimate combines the two papers.

02

Why this is classified as D (22)

Both large trials failed their primary endpoints, but the confidence intervals do not exclude mortality reductions of 17% to 18%, so the evidence is unproven, D, rather than repeatedly refuted, F, giving D with 22 points. No single pooled estimate combines the two papers.

Counterpoint. Evaluation of symptoms or inherited high risk is a separate clinical setting.

Rejudgment record. Cross-check applied — UKCTOCS randomized 202,638 and analyzed 202,562; MMS ovarian or tubal cancer mortality HR was 0.96 (95% CI 0.83 to 1.10). PLCO randomized 78,216 and included 68,557 in the ovarian cancer analysis; RR was 1.18 (0.82 to 1.71). Both primary endpoints failed, but 17% to 18% mortality reductions were not excluded, so this is unproven, D, rather than repeatedly refuted, F. No single pooled estimate combines the two papers.

Sub-claim grades by effect

This ingredient is marketed for several effects. A single overall grade blends strong and weak claims together, so each effect is graded separately here. The overall grade reflects the strongest disconfirming or core claim.

Effect (sub-claim)GradeBasis
Lower ovarian or tubal cancer mortalityDBoth primary endpoints failed but did not exclude reductions of 17% to 18%.
Reduction in advanced ovarian cancerCUKCTOCS showed a stage-shift signal that did not translate into lower mortality.
Earlier ovarian cancer detectionCEarlier-stage detection increased, but overdiagnosis and null mortality remain.

Cross-check — AI research and Codex final gate

AI was used for research and drafting. Blind grading, adversarial audit, and the methodology boundary rules were then reapplied before Codex performed the final evidence, grade, copy, and build checks. If a grade cannot be narrowed, both evidence positions and their reasons are published.
03

Evidence Table

StudyDesignSampleFundingEndpointResultWeight
Menon U et al. 2021Long-term multicenter randomized population-screening trial202,638 randomized and 202,562 in the actual primary ITT analysisNIHR, Cancer Research UK, The Eve Appeal, MRC, and the United Kingdom Department of Health; not manufacturer-ledPrimary ovarian or tubal cancer mortalityMMS HR 0.96 (95% CI 0.83 to 1.10); primary endpoint failed.Key direct evidence of nonproof
Buys SS et al. 2011PLCO randomized screening trial78,216 randomized and 68,557 in the ovarian cancer analysisUnited States NCI public and intramural funding; not manufacturer-ledOvarian cancer mortalityRR 1.18 (0.82 to 1.71); primary endpoint failed.Independent evidence of nonproof
§

Receipt — 2 References

All 2 cited sources were verified for existence at the original page (as of 2026-07-24).

Menon U, Gentry-Maharaj A, Burnell M, et al. Ovarian cancer population screening and mortality after long-term follow-up in UKCTOCS: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2021;397(10290):2182-2193. PMID: 33991479. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00731-5.
checked
Buys SS, Partridge E, Black A, et al. Effect of Screening on Ovarian Cancer Mortality: The PLCO Cancer Screening Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 2011;305(22):2295-2303. PMID: 21642681. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2011.766.
checked
Research and draft: AI used · Cross-check: blind grading and adversarial audit
Final verification and publication gate: Codex · Evidence date: 2026-07-24 · Corrections: none

Cite this verdict

CA-125 plus transvaginal ultrasound x lower ovarian cancer mortality Evidence Grade D card
[Chamgap] CA-125 plus transvaginal ultrasound x lower ovarian cancer mortality — Evidence Grade D·22. 2 cited sources checked. Source: https://chamgap.com/en/verdicts/womens/ca125-transvaginal-ultrasound-ovarian-cancer-screening-mortality/ · CC BY 4.0

CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution; do not distort grades, numbers, or verdict meaning.

!

What this document does and does not do

Chamgap is an information source. It reports what research has and has not confirmed; it does not tell readers what to take or buy. That decision belongs to readers and, when needed, medical or legal professionals. This verdict reflects literature available up to the search date and may change as new research appears. Nothing here is medical advice.