Answer Key: Are You Missing Opportunities to Assess and Prevent High-Grade Serious Ovarian Cancer?

Answer Key:

1. What is the primary rationale for performing opportunistic salpingectomy (OS) as a preventive measure against ovarian cancer?

Correct Answer: Removing fallopian tubes reduces the source of most HGSCs

Evidence shows that most HGSCs originate from the fimbriated end of the fallopian tube, not the ovary itself. Removing the tubes can reduce HGSC incidence by up to 80%, making OS a powerful preventive strategy

2. Which type of surgery represents the most common missed opportunity for salpingectomy among women aged 45 years or older?

Correct Answer: Cholecystectomy

Cholecystectomy was identified as the most frequent nongynecologic procedure among older women where OS could have been performed but was not.

3. Which professional organizations currently recommend opportunistic salpingectomy for ovarian cancer prevention?

Correct Answer: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO)

Both ACOG and the SGO endorse OS as a standard risk-reduction measure for average-risk individuals undergoing hysterectomy or seeking sterilization.

Reference:
Moufarrij S, Hazimeh D, Rockwell T, et al. Gauging the Magnitude of Missed Opportunity for Ovarian Cancer Prevention. JAMA Surg. Published online August 13, 2025. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2025.2810