Ovarian cancer: predictors of early-stage diagnosis.

Objectives: Despite the lack of effective screening, almost 20% of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed at an early stage of disease, when the prognosis is favorable. This study sought to elucidate tumor-related, census-based socioeconomic indicators, and demographic characteristics associated with early diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Methods: The study population included 16,228 women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer from 1996 through 2006 and reported to the California Cancer Registry.