Cancer Flashcards
Anatomy of cervix with regards to epithelium
The endocervix has columnar epithelium which produces mucin
Ectocervix has mature squamous epithelial cells
Separated by the squamocolumnar junction
What is the transformation zone
In the squamocolmnar junction columnar epithelial cells transform into squamous cells in squamous metaplasia
What process occurs at the transformation zone
Squamous metaplasia
What causes cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
HPV infections cause dysplasia at the TZ
Over 100 HPVs but 16 and 18 most common
Most common cause of CIN
HPV 16
Where do CIN occur
Transformation zone
How is CIN graded
CIN 1-3 on histology
CIN 1= dysplasia in lower 1/3 of epithelium
CIN 2= lower 2/3
CIN 3= full thickness but BM intact
Rfx for CIN
Early age of first intercourse Multiple sexual partners Multiparity Smoking Immunosuppression
What is CGIN
Cervical glandular intraepithelial neoplasia
Difference between CIN and CGIN
CIN affects squamous cells
CGIN affects glandular cells
How is CIN differentiated from CGIN
Cytology
What is the treatment of CGIN
Excision of whole endocervix
What is the problem with excision of whole endocervix
Compromises fertility
How is CIN investigated
Colposcopy and biopsy
Can do cone biopsy
Name of procedure for CIN excision
LLETZ where Heated thin wire removes abnormal cells
Large loop excision of the transformation zone
What is risk of excisions for CIN
Preterm delivery
Midterm miscarriage
What must be done after CIN removal
Test of cure 6 mo later
What is most common type of cervical cancer
Squamous cell carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous cell carcinomas less common
Non-gynae involvement of cervical cancer
Can extend to bowel or bladder so get related symptoms
Risks of radical hysterectomy
Bladder dysfunction- get urinary retention
Sexual dysfunction
Lymphoedema
When does bladder dysfunction occur after hysterectomy
Immediate post operative
Manage with self catheterisation
How is cervical IIB-IVA managed
Chemoradiation
- radiation can either be external beam or brachytherapy
- chemotherapy usual cisplatin
What chemotherapy used in cervical cacner
Cisplatin
What is brachytherapy
Internal radiation
How does bracytherapy work
Rods of radioactive selenium inserted into affected area- effects extend up to 5mm from rod
Side effects (short term) of radiation for cervical cancer
Tired
Bladder and bowel dysfunction
Erythema if external beam
Long term side effects of radiation for cervical cancer
Fibrosis
Vaginal stenosis
Cystitis symptoms
Malabsorption and mucous diarrorhoea
Radiotherapy induced menopause
Treatment of cervical cancer if pregnant
MDT approach
Delivery after 35 weeks
What to do if recurrent cervical cancer
Surgery
Palliative chemo
Supportive care
Why get lymphoedema after hysterectomy
Pelvic lymph node removal
How to manage lymphoedema post hysterectomy
Leg elevation
Good skin care
Massage
How is CIN 1 managed
Repeat smear in 1 year
How are CIN 2 and CIN 3 managed
LLETZ or cone biopsy if very large
Repeat smear in 6 months to check cure
Difference between operation for LLETZ and cone biopsy
LLETZ local anaesthetic
Cone GA
What age do people get cervical cancer
2 peaks
30-39 and over 70
What are the 2 layers of endometrium
Functional layer innermost with glands and stroma
Outer basal layer
What layer grows in preovulation phase
Functional layer from E2 growth
What happens to endometrium in post ovulation phase
Progesterone inhibits growth
Progesterone encourages production of nutrients for implantation
Risk factors for endometrial hyperplasia
Related to high oestrogen and low progesterone
- obesity
- early menarche
- late menopause
- nulliparity
- DM
- HTN
- annovulatary amenorrhoea
- tamoxifen
- oestrogen replacement
Drugs which cause endometrial cancer
Tamoxifen
Oestrogen replacement
What is metorrhagia
Bleeding between menstrual cycles
Symptoms of endometrial hyperplasia/cancer
Menorrhagia
Metorrhagia
What is bleeding post menopause main concern
Endometrial cancer
What is most common cancer of gynae
Endometrial
Most important factor in progression of endometrial hyperplasia to endometrial cancer
Atypia
What does atypia mean
Larger nucleus and hyperchromatic
Management of endometrial hyperplasia without atypia
Address risk factors -eg stop HRT
Can either observe or treat with progesterone but higher rates of regression in treatment
Progestogen treatment
- Oral progesterone
- LNG-IUS
Biopsy every 6 months
If symptomatic then adivse progestogen treatment
How is endometrial hyperplasia diagnosed and surveyed
Hysteroscopy with biopsy of endometrium
How often should women with endometrial hyperplasia without atypia be surveyed
6 months
Indication for surgery in women with endometrial hyperplasia without atypia
Not wanting to preserve fertility and
- no regression after 12 months
- relapse
- persistent bleeding
- decline surveillance and medical management
What surgery is done in endometrial hyperplasia without atypia if indicated
Total hysterectomy and if post menopausal can offter bilateral salpingo oophorectomy
What determines the treatment of atypical endometrial hyperplasia
Whether the woman wants to preserve her fertility or is unsuitable for surgery
What is management principle of atypical endometrial hyperplasia
Should have hysterectomy due to risk of progression to malignancy- as high was 30% in 20 years
What is management of atypical endometrial hyperplasia if no need to preserve fertility
Total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
Ablation of endometrium possible but not as successful so not recommended
Management of atypical endometrial hyperplasia if want to preserve fertility
Pretreatment investigations to rule out ovarian cancer
First line LNG-IUS
Can also give oral progestogens
Surveillance every 3 months
How often should women who have medical management of atypical hyperplasia be surveyed
3 months until 2 negative biopsies then every year
What method of hysterectomy is preferred
Laprasocopic
- Shorter hospital stay
- Less post op pain
- Quicker recovery
What are 2 types of endometrial cancer
Endometrioid T1
Non-endometrioid T2
What factors which protect against endometrial cancer
Breastfeeding
COCP
Later age of giving birth
What are types of non-endometrioid cancer
Serous
Papillary
Clear cell
What is difference in appearance between endometrioid and non-endometrioid cancers
Endometrioid resembles normal glands
What is differnece in cause of non endometrioid vs endometrioid cancer
Endometrioid caused by excess oestrogen
Non-endometrioid in very old people
Risk factors for non-endometrioid cancers
Low body weight
Endometrial atrophy
What are the majority of endometrioid cancers
Adenocarcinomas
Symptoms of endometrial cancer
Abnormal vaginal bleeding
Enlargement of uterus can lead to abdo pain and cramping
Difference in presentation between endometrial and cervical cancer
Vaginal pain in cervical
How can vulvar cancer present
Noticed a mass
White plaque
Vulval itching, pain
Bleeding from ulceration
What will see on examination of vulval cancer
Irregular mass
Fungating
Groin lymph node enlargement
Ulcers or sores
White plaquw
What is most common type of vulval cancer
Squamous epithelium
How is vulval cancer diagnosed
Examination
Biopsy at least 1mm deep
Management plan for vulvar cancer
If stromal invasion of over 1mm or diameter over 2cm then vulvectomy full inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy recommended ( do separately to avoid morbidity)
If less than 2cm diameter and 1mm depth of invasion do wide local excision
If is less than 4cm and no evidence of lymph node involvement can do sentinel node biopsy but if SNLB detects metastases then must do full
If patient unfit for surgery then radical radiotherapy used
Excise any other lichen sclerosus and VIN
What are the 2 groups of groin lymph nodes
Inguinal- superficial
Femoral deep
Complications of groin lymphadenectomy
Wound healing complications
Infection
VTE
Chronic lymphoedema
How does sentinel lymph node biopsy work in vulvar cancer
Dye or radioactive nucleotide injected into tumour to identify sentinel node- first one it drains to
What is main prognostic factor in vulvar cancer
Lymph node involvement
What can be used as adjuvant therapy prior to vulvar cancer excision
Radiotherapy
Only in cases where 2 or more present groin metastases or excision margins too close
What are 2 precursors to vulvar cancer
VIN
Pagets
What cancers to VIN develop into versus pagets
Squamous cell cancer from VIN
Adenocarcinoma from pagets disease of the vulva
What causes VIN
HPV 16
What are the 2 types of VIN
Usual type
Differentiated
What is difference in age group presentation of usual type VIN versus differentiated type
Usual- 35-55
Differentiated- older women
What is difference in association of usual and differentiated VIN
Usual- warty/basaloid SCC
Differentiated- keratinising SCC
What is often seen before differentiated VIN
Lichen sclerosus
What happens in at a cervical screening
Speculum exam done and sample of transformation zone taken
What do at cervical screening if are 2 cervixes
Take a sample from both
When do you refer a smear test for colposcoy
Cervical stenosis where consider cervical dilatation
Cervix cant be visualised
When do you delay cervical screening
Menstruating
Less than 12 weeks post partum or miscarriage/abortion
Infection or discharge
Pregnant- wait 12 weeks til is done
How does cervical screening work
Initially test for high risk HPV strains
If positive do cytology
If these are negative then can return to normal waiting time
UNLESS
- test of cure pathway
- CIN 1 pathway
- follow-up for CGIN removal, stratified mucin producing intraepithelial lesion of the cervix or cervical cancer removal
- follow-up of borderline endocervical changes
What comes under abnormal cytology in smear test
Abnormal squamous or endocervical changes
Low grade dyskaryosis
Moderately high grade dyskaryosis
Severely high grade dyskaryosis
Invasive cervical carcinoma
Glandular epithelium
What happens if hrHPV positive but cytology negative
Repeat in 1 year
If this negative then return to normal schedule
If this positive and cytology abnormal colposcopy
If this positive and cytology negative repeat in 1 year
What are the outcomes of HPV testing at 24 months following initial pos HPV but neg cytology
Positive here-> colposcopy
Negative-> return to normal scedule
Inadequate-> colposcopy
What can cause an inadequate cytology sample
Was taken but the cervix was not fully visualized.
Was taken in an inappropriate manner (for example, using a sampling device not approved by the NHS Cervical Screening Programme).
Contains insufficient cells.
Contains an obscuring element (for example, lubricant, inflammation, or blood).
Was incorrectly labelled
What happens in inadequate sample or HPV testing unavailable
Repeat within 3 months