Endometrial Cancer Flashcards
How do cancers spread?
- LOCAL EXTENSION= grow into adjacent structures (bladder, rectum, peritoneal cavity).
- LYMPHATIC (pelvic, para-aortic, groin lymph nodes).
- HEMATOLOGIC= travel through blood to distant sites (lungs, brain, bone).
What is the number 1 risk factor for endometrial cancer?
obestity
What should you be sure to do when performing a physical exam for possible endometrial cancer?
- speculum exam= look for normal vagina, normal cervix, no lesions.
- pelvic exam= cannot appreciate uterine size or adnexa.
- recto-vaginal exam= feel for normal sphincter tone, no blood, no mass, no nodularity.
- endometrial biopsy.
What imaging modality would be helpful for a suspected endometrial cancer?
- pelvic ultrasound
Can you do an endometrial biopsy in the office w/o anesthesia?
YES
What if your patient can’t tolerate the biopsy?
D&C +/- hysteroscopy (camera in the uterus)
Is post-menopausal bleeding cancer until proven otherwise?
YES
What would a SEROUS endometrial carcinoma (type II) look like?
- papillary (finger-like) projections
* actually more common in the ovary, but when in the uterus, these are more aggressive.
What 2 genetic mutations put a woman at increased risk for endometrial cancer?
- Lynch syndrome (mismatch repair genes)
2. Cowden syndrome (PTEN)
In what age group does endometrial cancer occur most?
- POSTmenopausal age
*** What are the 2 types of endometrial cancer?
- HYPERPLASIA (type I)= unopposed estrogen leading to endoMETRIOID histology because it looks a lot like the endometrium (age 50-60).
- SPORADIC (type II)= ATROPHIC endometrium (no evident precursor lesion and) driven by p53 MUTATION leading to SEROUS histology characterized by PAPILLARY structures (age greater than 70). Think “S” for Sporadic and Serous.
** Does type I or type II endometrial cancer have a better prognosis?
- TYPE I
** With what is type I (hyperplasia) endometrial cancer related?
- related to OBESITY/metabolic syndrome, and tamoxifen (SERM) use.
** With what is type II (sporadic) endometrial cancer related?
- African Americans, HNPCC, and majority have metastasis.
* remember Serous or clear cell types.
What are some protective factors of type I (hyperplasia) endometrial cancer?
- smoking
- oral contraceptive use