BENIGN OVARIAN CYSTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES AND IN THE UNITED-STATES

Objective To compare the rates of hospital admission for management of ovarian cysts in England and Wales and the United States between 1972 and 1974 and 1984 and 1986; and to determine whether these rates are related to rates of early diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Design Analysis of published and unpublished hospital discharge data based on national samples, the Hospital In-patient Enquiry (HIPE), a 10% hospital discharge sample for England and Wales, and the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDs), a 5% sample for the United States. Main outcome measures Age-specific discharge rates for primary and secondary diagnoses of ovarian cyst or benign ovarian tumour. Results There was an age-adjusted increase in discharge rates of about 8% in both countries; discharge rates in the United States were approximately double those in England and Wales in both time periods. There was no difference in the rates of early diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Conclusions Ovarian cysts are a common cause of hospital admission in both countries. The higher rates in the United States are not associated with earlier diagnosis of ovarian cancer.