The pattern of sound wave echoes produced creates a picture, known as a sonogram, which is shown on a monitor like a TV screen. Because healthy tissues, fluid-filled cysts, and cancer can produce different echoes, the test is potentially useful in detecting ovarian diseases. Doctors expect to enroll 148,000 men and women between the ages of 55 and 74 in the trial at 9 medical centers across the country. These volunteers must not have any of the cancers for which they might be screened in the study, although a diagnosis of other cancers may not exclude their participation. Men taking finasteride for any reason are not eligible for the PLCO Trial.
Cancer occurs more often as people grow older.
Because risk for the disease is greater in older persons, they are the most appropriate population to study. The benefits of the tests being studied are unknown, and they may not provide any advantage to the participants. By comparing the number of cancers diagnosed and the number of cancer deaths in the intervention and control groups, the researchers will be able to determine the potential benefit of the tests under study. This information is part of the comparison between the groups and will be used to learn more about risks for these diseases. Although they are not having the tests being studied, their participation is vital to the trial.