Benign and Malignant Gynae Conditions Flashcards
What are the top 4-5 gynae cancers in the UK? (in order of incidence)
- Endometrial
- Ovarian
- Cervical
- Vaginal + vulval
What is the most common ovarian tumour?
Carcinoma of the ovaries
What are the types of ovarian malignancy?
- Primary: carcinomas, sex cord stromal tumours, germ cell tumours
- Secondary: mets, Krukenberg tumours
What are the different subtypes of ovarian carcinoma? How common are they?
- High grade serous (75%)
- Mucinous (10%)
- Endometrioid (10%)
- Clear cell
Where do most serous ovarian carcinomas arise from?
The Fallopian tubes!!!
Psammoma bodies are a histological feature of which subtype of ovarian carcinoma?
High grade serous
Which mutations are most associated with high grade serous ovarian cancers?
p53, BRCA
Which precursor lesions can give rise to the different subtypes of ovarian carcinoma?
- Endometriosis: endometrioid and clear cell
- Cysts: low grade serous
Name some risk factors for ovarian carcinoma
Nulliparity, endometriosis, PID, smoking, FHx
Name some preventative factors for ovarian carcinoma
COCP, multiparity, salpingectomy, oophorectomy
What is the recommended prevention of ovarian carcinoma in women with the BRCA mutation?
BSO when family completed
Name some signs + symptoms of ovarian cancer
- Bloating, fatigue, early satiety, abdo+pelvic pain, change in bowel habits, urinary symptoms
- Abdo distension/masses, ascites, prominent lymph nodes, pleural effusion
A 66 year old woman comes to the GP complaining of non-specific abdo pains, bloating, and feeling full quickly after eating for the past 4 months. How would you manage this patient?
- Full history and abdo + bimanual exam
- Bloods: FBC, U+Es, Ca-125
- TVUSS
- 2 week wait!!
What tumour markers are there for ovarian carcinoma (and what are they associated with)?
CA 125: serous carcinoma CA 19-9: mucinous carcinoma Inhibin: GC tumours AFP: teratoma hCG: dysgerminoma, choriocarcinoma
How is ovarian cancer staged?
FIGO staging
1: confined to the ovaries
2: confined to the pelvis
3: positive lymph nodes or peritoneal implants
4: distant metastases
What is the prognosis like for ovarian cancer?
Bad. It is usually detected at a later stage, meaning it has the highest death rate of the gynae cancers
What is the management of ovarian cancer?
- Debulking surgery: total abdominal hysterectomy, BSO, omentectomy, lymph node resection
- Adjuvant chemotherapy: platinum based chemo (Carboplatin) + paclitaxel for 6 cycles
Describe the common side effects of chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.
- Hair loss
- N+V
- Neuropathy
- Myalgia, arthralgia, fatigue
What is the management for recurrent ovarian carcinoma?
- Can use bevacizumab (anti-VEGF antibody)
- Palliative chemo
What are the types of sex cord stromal tumours? Which is most common?
- Granulosa cell tumours (most common)
- Thecal cell tumours
- Fibromas
How can sex cord stromal tumours present?
- Similar symptoms to ovarian carcinoma (bloating, early satiety, etc)
- Symptoms as a result of oestrogen or androgen production (virilisation, precocious puberty, abnormal uterine bleeding, amenorrhoea)
How are sex cord stromal tumours managed?
- Surgery is only treatment (unilateral or bilateral SO)
- Long term follow up for granulosa cell tumours (monitor inhibin)
In what age group are germ cell tumours most common?
Young women (teens)
Describe the classification of germ cell tumours. How common are the subtypes?
Either undifferentiated (dysgerminoma) -commonest, 50%
or differentiated- divided into:
-Teratomas (mature- benign or immature- malignant)
-Choriocarcinoma
-Endodermal sinus/yolk sac tumours (15%)
How are germ cell tumours managed?
- Fertility-sparing surgery with peritoneal biopsy, lymph node sampling
- +/- adjuvant chemo with BEP (bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin)
What is the most common type of endometrial cancer?
Carcinoma
What is the most common age to be diagnosed with endometrial cancer?
Early 60s (62)
What are the 2 histological types of endometrial cancer? Describe the aetiology of each.
Type 1: low grade. Includes endometrioid, mucinous, secretory. Arises on the background of endometrial hyperplasia.
Type 2: high grade. Includes serous, clear cell. Arises on the background of atrophic endometrium.
What are the risk factors for endometrial carcinoma?
Type 1: any high-oestrogen states. eg. obesity, PCOS, HRT, nulliparity, early menarche/late menopause
Type 2: older age, family history
Describe the signs + symptoms of endometrial cancer
- Postmenopausal bleeding!!!!! or IMB if premenopausal, abdominal/pelvic pain, bladder/bowel symptoms
- Bulky uterus, bleeding from os
A 59 year old woman attends the GP complaining of PV bleeding. She has not had periods in 6 years and is not on HRT. How would you like to manage this case?
- Take a full history and perform an abdo + pelvic exam, including speculum
- Bloods: FBC
- TVUSS!
- Refer to gynae 2WW clinic
A 59 year old woman attends the GP complaining of PV bleeding. She has not had periods in 6 years and is not on HRT. On TVUSS, endometrial thickness is 6mm. What would you do next?
-Hysteroscopy with biopsy
On TVUSS, what parameter will indicate if endometrial cancer is likely? What is the threshold?
Endometrial thickness. <4mm unlikely, >4mm suspicious
What is the best modality for staging endometrial cancer?
MRI
How is endometrial cancer staged?
- FIGO
1: confined to uterus
2: invading cervix
3: local/regional spread (serosa, vagina, lymph nodes)
4: distant metastases, bladder/bowel invasion
Describe the management of endometrial cancer.
Total hysterectomy + BSO, lymph node dissection
-+/- radiotherapy and chemotherapy
What is the prognosis of endometrial cancer?
Usually quite good. Most are detected at stage I with 80% survival rate.
What are the types of endometrial sarcoma?
- Pure sarcomas (eg. leiomyosarcoma)
- Mixed epithelial (carcinosarcoma)
- Heterologous
What are the high risk HPV strains?
Classically 16, 18
Also 31, 33, 45
Describe the relationship between HPV and cervical cancer
HPV is a very common sexually transmitted virus. In most cases, HPV infection is transient and is cleared by the immune system. However, in some individuals, the virus is not cleared. Persistent infection can lead to DNA damage in epithelial cells of the cervix -> CIN. This can eventually progress to carcinoma of the cervix.
Name several risk factors for persistent HPV infection.
- Smoking
- HIV positive
- Immunocompromised
Which part of the cervix does HPV infection affect?
The transition zone. This is the area between the current + past squamocolumnar junctions (this changes over time).
Describe the cytological appearance of CIN
Immature, hyperchromatic cells with large nuclei and less cytoplasm:nuclei, abnormal mitoses
How is CIN graded?
1-3, depending on where the abnormal cells are.
1: lower 1/3 of the epithelium
2: lower 2/3s
3: full thickness
What is the term that refers to abnormal cells obtained from a cervical smear?
Dyskaryosis
Describe the cervical cancer screening pathway.
25-49: every 3 years 50-64: every 5 years Cervical brush/broom used to collect cells from the transition zone of the cervix Sent for high risk HPV testing -Negative for hrHPV -> routine recall -Positive for hrHPV -> send for cytology Normal cytology: repeat HPV testing in 1 year Abnormal cytology: colposcopy
Normal cytology recall:
- If now hrHPV negative: routine recall
- If still hrHPV positive: cytology
- If cytology neg: 12 months recall. If STILL hrHPV positive, colposcopy.
- Basically, they get 2 chances to have hrHPV. ON the third time, colposcopy no matter the cytology
Describe colposcopy like you would to a patient.
- An examination of the cervix done to detect any abnormal cells. Takes 15-20 minutes. Done as outpatient
- Uses a special microscope with a light. Apply special liquids to the cervix that help show any abnormal cells
- +/- biopsy. This may be uncomfortable
- If the doctor sees abnormal cells, they may remove them during the examination.
What is done during colposcopy?
- Examine the cervix using a microscope
- Apply stains:
- Acetic acid: turns areas of turnover WHITE
- Iodine: everything will turn brown except for CIN (because there is no glycogen)
What happens after colposcopy? *****
- No dyskaryosis: routine recall
- Low grade dyskaryosis: cytology and colposcopy in 6 months
- High grade dyskaryosis: treatment
What are the management options for CIN? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
Loop diathermy (LLETZ- large loop excision of TZ)
- Pros: LA as outpatient, short (15 mins), effective, sample for pathology
- Cons: must be at least 7mm deep, can increase risk of miscarriage/preterm delivery if large/repeated
Cone biopsy
-Cons: GA, can cause cervical stenosis or incompetence in 5% of women
- Also: cold coagulation
- Follow up with ‘test of cure’ hrHPV test and cytology at 6 months