Endometrial Cancer
What is Endometrial Cancer?
Endometrial cancer is a type of cancer that arises from the inner lining (endometrium) of the uterus. It is one of the most common cancers affecting the female reproductive organs.
Is this a medical emergency?
Endometrial cancer is not a medical emergency, however, early diagnosis and management prevent complications, morbidity, and mortality.
Types
Endometrial carcinoma may be of the following types:
- Endometroid adenocarcinoma
- Endometroid adenoacanthomas
- Endometroid adenosquamous carcinoma
- Endometroid clear cell adenocarcinoma: Associated with a poor prognosis
- Endometroid papillary serous adenocarcinoma: Associated with a poor prognosis
Causes
This cancer is caused when there is a mutation in the cells of the inner lining of the uterus and their rapid multiplication. While the exact cause is not fully understood, several risk factors can contribute to its development.
Risk factors
Some risk factors for the development of endometrial cancer include:
- Obesity: It is seen to increase the estrogen levels in the body.
- Diabetes mellitus
- Family history of carpus uterine cancer
- Nulliparity: No childbirth
- Late menopause (after 50 years)
- Age: Mostly seen in postmenopausal women (55-65 years)
- Unopposed estrogen: High levels of estrogen:
- Estrogen therapy
- Polycystic ovarian disease
- Granulosa cell tumors
- Anovulation
- Tamoxifen: An anticancer drug used for the treatment of breast cancer, is associated with adenocarcinoma of the endometrium
- History of breast cancer
- History of colon cancer (hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer)
- History of ovarian cancer
- Radiotherapy to the pelvis
- Genetic disorders such as Lynch Syndrome and Cowden Syndrome
Signs & symptoms
The symptoms and signs may include:
- Vaginal bleeding between periods
- Vaginal bleeding in postmenopausal women
- Pain in the lower back and the pelvic region
- Fatigue and weakness
Investigations
Some investigations that are done for endometrial cancer include:
- Laboratory tests:
- CBP & ESR
- Liver and renal function tests
- Coagulation profile and blood typing
- Blood glucose/HbA1c
- Imaging tests:
- Vaginal ultrasound
- Hydroultrsonography
- Procedures:
- Endometrial biopsy
- Hysteroscopically guided biopsy
- Dilatation and curettage
Diagnosis
A diagnosis is established based on medical history, clinical evaluation, and results of the investigations done.
Course & stages
The staging of carpus uterine cancer is as follows:
- Stage I: Partial or more than half of the uterine muscle wall invasion is present
- Stage II: Tumor does not extend beyond the uterus
- Stage III: Local and/or regional spread of the tumor
- Stage IV: Tumor invasion of the bladder and/or bowel mucosa and/or distant metastases, intrabdominal and/or inguinal lymph nodes
Grading of carpus uterine cancer is done as follows:
- Grade 1: Solid growth is less than 5%
- Grade 2: Solid growth pattern is 6-50%
- Grade 3: Solid growth pattern is more than 50%
Treatment options
The treatment of endometrial cancer is to remove the disease and prevent its spread. Surgical intervention is the primary treatment in combination with medical management and radiotherapy.
Medical management
Medical management includes:
- Chemotherapy: This is usually done in advanced stage carpus uterine cancer with metastasis to the bladder, bowel, etc.
- Hormone therapy: This is usually done in advanced carpus uterine cancer
Interventional including surgery and indications for surgery
Surgical intervention is the treatment of choice upon diagnosis of corpus uterine cancer, and the following procedures are done:
- Total Hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy: Removal of the uterus with the fallopian tubes and the ovaries. Additionally, all the lymph nodes that are involved are also removed
Radiation
Radiotherapy is done as an adjunct to surgical intervention and with chemotherapy in advanced corpus uterine cancer. Radiotherapy is not required for stage I & II endometrial cancer after surgery. Radiotherapy may include:
- Vaginal brachytherapy: For grade 3 tumors that have not invaded the muscle wall of the uterus and for grade 1 and 2 tumors with high-risk factors
- Pelvic external beam radiation therapy: When there is an extensive disease involving the uterine muscle wall or involvement of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, bowel, or rectum
Role of Diet/ Exercise/ Lifestyle changes/ Preventive measures
Some measures that can help in the prevention of endometrial cancer include:
- Use of combination contraceptive pills
- Maintain an ideal body weight
- Keep diabetes under control
- Postmenopausal hormone therapy only under medical supervision
Complications
Some complications of corpus uterine cancer and surgical interventions for its treatment include:
- Severe anemia
- Spread of cancer to distant organs
- Multi-organ failure
- Bleeding
- Infections
- Deep vein thromboembolism
- Death
Prognosis
The prognosis for corpus uterine cancer that is identified and treated early is generally very good. The prognosis of corpus uterine cancer that is diagnosed in later stages and of cancers with certain cell types are generally poor.
When to contact the doctor or hospital? / How to identify the emergency or complications?
It is advisable to seek medical attention if the symptoms and signs of corpus uterine cancer are noticed.
Indications for hospitalization if required
Hospitalization will be required for the surgical management of corpus uterine cancer.
Screening methods
Screening for corpus uterine cancer via regular and periodic check-ups, imaging, and biopsies is recommended in women who are at high risk, such as those having a history of Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colon Cancer, ovarian cancer, or breast cancer, etc.
Suggested clinical specialist/ Departments to consult for this condition
Endometrial cancer will be treated by specialists from the department of gynecological oncology, gynecology, & obstetrics.
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