ABOG Gynecologic Oncology study guide
ABOG Gynecologic Oncology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) administers subspecialty certification in gynecologic oncology for obstetrician–gynecologists who have completed accredited fellowship training in the field. This page is an independent study resource describing that credential and how candidates typically prepare; it is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ABOG, and it is not an official source of exam information. The ABOG Gynecologic Oncology study guide has 6 sections and about 2,084 words.
01Screening, Prevention, and Diagnosis of Gynecologic Malignancies
Cervical cancer is the only gynecologic malignancy with a proven population screening test. Average-risk screening starts at 21 (or 25 under ACS 2020 guidance) and continues to 65 only if adequate prior negative results exist; typical exit criteria are three consecutive negative cytology tests or two consecutive negative co-tests within the prior 10 years, with the most recent test within 3–5 years.
322 words, about 2 min02Surgical Management of Gynecologic Cancer
Ovarian cancer staging for apparent early disease requires an adequate midline laparotomy, total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy, peritoneal biopsies from multiple sites, and washings. Incomplete staging is a common reason for reoperation and for upward stage migration.
310 words, about 2 min03Systemic Therapy and Chemotherapy
Ovarian cancer: carboplatin plus paclitaxel every 3 weeks for six cycles, with neoadjuvant chemotherapy permitted when primary debulking is not feasible. Bevacizumab is added for selected patients, and maintenance with a PARP inhibitor is chosen by BRCA mutation and homologous recombination status, not given indiscriminately.
294 words, about 1 min04Radiation Oncology and Combined-Modality Therapy
Locally advanced cervical cancer is treated with external beam radiation to the pelvis with weekly cisplatin, followed by intracavitary brachytherapy. The brachytherapy boost delivers the central dose that external beam cannot safely provide; substituting an external beam boost for brachytherapy worsens local control and survival.
296 words, about 1 min05Pathology, Molecular Biology, and Tumor Biology
Ovarian carcinoma is no longer one disease. High-grade serous carcinoma carries near-universal TP53 mutation and frequent BRCA1/2 or homologous recombination defects.
271 words, about 1 min06Clinical Trials, Biostatistics
Phase I establishes dose and toxicity, phase II screens for activity, and phase III compares outcomes against a control. Overall survival is the most robust endpoint; progression-free survival is accepted when it reliably predicts overall survival but is vulnerable to assessment bias and differing definitions.
591 words, about 3 min