In the United States, ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer to develop in women and causes more deaths than all other gynecologic malignancies combined. Because of the difficulties in detecting early stage ovarian cancer, 75% of women continue to be diagnosed with advanced stage disease (stage III or IV).

The National Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Program (NOCEDP) as part of the National Cancer Institute's Early Detection Research Network (EDRN) is committed to the development of effective means for the accurate detection of early stage ovarian cancer.

The last decade has seen rapid technological advances in diagnostic ultrasonography with the recent development of three-dimensional imaging.

Initial studies suggest that these new technologies improve upon the diagnostic accuracy of two-dimensional transvaginal imaging in the differentiation between benign and malignant pathology.

This improved diagnostic accuracy may promote improved patient care by separating complex benign masses from ovarian cancer therefore facilitating appropriate treatment.