6- Gynaecological oncology Flashcards
gynae cancers
from most common to leat
- endometrial/ uterus
- ovary
- cervix
- vulva
- vaginal
endometrial cancer background
- Commonest
- Rare before 35 and rare after 80
- More common in postmenopausal
- Common in western world
types of endometrial cancer
o Premalignant stage: Endometrial hyperplasia
o Endometrial carcinoma (adenocarcinoma)
o Sarcoma
endometrial hyperplasia
Pre-malignant condition of endometrial cancer caused by excess oestrogen without progesterone
e.g.
- early period/ late menopause
- tamoxifen
- obesity
- HRT unopposed with oestrogen
- diabetes
types of endometrial hyperplasia
o Hyperplasia without atypia
o Atypical hyperplasia- more likely to become cancer
presentation of endometrial hyperplasia
heavy bleeding
management of endometrial hyperplasia
- Mirena
- Continuous oral progestogens
- Hysterectomy: for high risk endoplasia with atypia
where does endometrial hyperplasia metastasise to
- Rare at presentation of type 1 cancers
- Intraperitoneal, lung, bone, brain
causes/ rf for endometrial cancer
- Obesity- adipose is source of oestrogen
- Early menarche/ late meno
- Nulliparity
- PCOS- increased exposure to unopposed oestrogen due to lack of ovulation (due to less likely to ovulate and form CL, which produces progesterone)
- Unopposed oestrogen e.g. tamoxifen
- Previous breast or ovarian cancer (BRCA ½)
- Endometrial polyps
- Diabetes- due to increased production of insulin in T2
protective factors for endometrial cancer
- Continuous combined HRT
- COCP/ mirena
- Multiparety
- Smoking- antiestrogenic
- Coffee/ Tea
- Healthy lifestyle/ PT
presentation of endometrial cancer
- Post menopausal bleeding
- PCB/ intermenstrual bleeding
- Abnormal discharge
- Haematuria
- Anaemia
- Raised platelet count
staging of endometrial cancer
FIGO
investigations for women presenting with prolonged/ heavy bleeding (especially if postmenopausal)
one stop post menopausal bleeding clinic
- H and E
- FBC
- Transvaginal ultrasound for endometrial thickness (normal is less than 4mm post-menopause)
- Pipelle biopsy, which is highly sensitive for endometrial cancer making it useful for excluding cancer (quicker and less invasive than hysteroscopy)
- Hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy
once endometrial cancer is diagnosed what investigations should happen
- FBC, U and E, LFT
- CT CAP
- MRI pelvis
management of endometrial cancer depends on
- Stage
- Age
- Fitness
management of endometrial cancer
Preferred treatment: Surgical
Surgical treatment 80% of patients have primary surgery
- Hysterectomy PLUS bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, peritoneal washings
- Laparoscopic / Open
Non Surgical Alternatives
- Progestagens
- Primary Radiotherapy
Adjuvant Radiotherapy if high risk of recurrence
- External beam
- Brachytherapy
Advanced disease/inoperable disease/unfit for surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy
- Hormones
- Palliative Care
ovarian cancer background
- 2nd commonest gynae cance
- Incidence rising
- Peak age 70-74
- No pre-malignant stage
o THEREFORE NO SCREENING PROGRAMME
where does ovarian cancer metastasise to
peritoneal
causes of ovarian cancer
- Obesity
- Nulliparity
- Early men/ late men
- Unopposed oestrogen
- Family history
- BRCA1/2
- Endometriosis
- Clomifene recurrent use
protective factors agains ovarian cancer
- COCP
- Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
- Hysterectomy
- Oophorectomy
- Sterilisation
presentation of ovarian cancer
late due to non specific
- Abdominal swelling and ascites
- Pelvic mass
- Pain
- Anorexia
- N and V
- Weight loss
- Vaginal bleeding
- Bowel symptoms
- Hip/groin pain- mass pressing on obturator nerve
investigations for ovarian cancer
- H and E
- US
- FBC and U&E
- Tumour marker
o CA125 >35 IU/mL
o AFP/LDH/ HCG (<40 years) - Pelvic US
- Surgical exploration
- Histopathology
how to stage ovarian cancer
- CXR
- CT to assess peritoneal, omental and retroperitoneal disease
- Cytology of ascitic tap (paracentesis)
types of ovarian cancer - broad
- Benign tumour
- Borderline tumour
- Malignant
ovarian cancer can originate from a number of cell lines
Epithelial
- serous
- mucinous
- endometriod
- clear
- cell
Germ cell
- teratoma
- yolk sac
- choriocarcinoma
- dysgerminoma
Stroma/sex cord
- granulosa cell
- sertoli-leydig cell
Miscellaenous and metastatic
- primary lymphoma
- metastases
- krukenberg tumour
most common types of ovarian cancer
Epithelial
o Serous
o Mucinous-
Germ cells
o Teratoma (dermoid)
krugenberg tumour
Krugenberg tumour- metastasis in ovary usually from GI cancer- signet ring cells
staging of ovarian cancer
management of ovarian cancer: epithelial cancer
- Surgery + chemotherapy
- Staging laparotomy, TAH PLUS BSO and debulking
- Platinum (Cisplatin, carboplatin) and Taxane (paclitaxel)
- In women of reproductive age, where the tumour is confined to one ovary, oophorectomy only may be considered
management of ovarian cancer: non-epithelial tumours
often occur in young women and can be extremely chemo-sensitive (e.g. germ cell). Often treated with combination of ‘conservative’ surgery and chemo
management of ovarian cancer: recurrent disease
palliative chemo
causes of high CA125
CA125 is a tumour marker for epithelial cell ovarian cancer. It is not very specific, and there are many non-malignant causes of a raised CA125:
* Endometriosis
* Fibroids
* Adenomyosis
* Pelvic infection
* Liver disease
* Pregnancy