Gynae oncology Flashcards
Cervical cancer subtypes
80% SCC, 20% adenocarcinoma
Describe the transformation zone
Columnar cells from glandular uterus get exposed to vaginal pH they undergo dysplasia
Risk factors for cervical cancer
- Smoking (doubles risk)
- COCP>10 years doubles risk
- Genetic/FH
- HPV
Pathophysiology of HPV
- Binds to tumour suppressor gene (tP53) causing squamous dysplasia
- HPV 16 & 18 account for 75% cervical cancer
- HPV 6&11 account for 90% genital warts (non cancerous)
- Very common, most women get rid of it in <1yr
Describe the cervical screening programme
- Diagnoses high grade CIN
- Women aged 25-64 are screened every 3 years to aged 50, 5 yearly smears to 64
- Saves around 4500 lives
- Cervical scrape from transformation zone of cervix
- Liquid based cytology
What are the stages of colposcopy
Inspection
Acetic acid staining
Iodine staining
Cervical screening samples
What does CIN3 look like in colposcopy?
Dense, white and irregular, well demarcated.
Treatment depending on CIN stage
CIN1: observe and repeat in 1 year
CIN2: treat, if young girl manage conservatively
CIN3: treat all cases
Treatment of CIN
Large loop excision of the transformation zone (LETS)
Local anaesthetic
Diathermy to crater and rim
Risks associated with LETS?
Healed after 6 months (infection, pain, bleeding)
Theoretical risk of future miscarriage (risk only after repetitive treatment)
What age is ovarian cancer usually diagnosed?
Above age 65
Risk factors of ovarian cancer
• Low parity • Infertility/use of clomiphene • HRT • Smoking • Obesity • Previous cancer treatment White caucasian Blood group A FH
Protective factors for ovarian cancer
• COC pill • Breast feeding • Hysterectomy • Salpingectomy • Bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy • Tubal sterilisation Exercise
What known mutations predispose to ovarian cancer?
BCRA1, BRCA2, HNPCC (lynch) mutations
Prophylactic oophorectomy?+/- hysterectomy With HRT until natural age of menopause
5 subtypes of ovarian cancer
- Epithelial type (60-70%, serous, mucinous, clear cell, endometrioid, undifferentiated, older women)
- Germ cell tumours (20-30%, esp malignant if age<20yrs)
- Ovarian sex cord stromal tumour cells (8%)
- Metastatic secondary tumours (breast, stomach, large bowel, uterus)
- Borderline
What is the ovarian cancer protein marker?
CA125
Symptoms of ovarian cancer
• Abdo pain • Abdo distention/bloating • Change in bowel habit • Urinary symptoms Emergency: • Torsion • Haemorrhage • Rupture • Infection
Clinical features of ovarian cancer
- Solid irregular and nodular fixed mass, palpable omental cake
- Pain and tenderness over mass
- Bilateral masses
- Ascites
- Leg oedema, venous compression and congestion, DVT
- Lymph nodes (inguinal, supraclavicular)
- SOB secondary to pleural effusions if advanced
Investigations for a woman with possible ovarian cancer
- FBC, U&Es, LFTs
- CA 125, CEA
- B-hCG and AFP (in young women for germ cell tumours)
- USS of pelvis and transvaginal USS
- Chest x-ray, CT chest abdo pelvis
- Ascitic fluid cytology and CT guided biopsy
Risk factors for endometrial cancer
- High levels of oestrogen (obesity, e2 therapy unopposed by progesterone in HRT error, oestrogen secreting ovarian tumour)
- (Fat cells convert adrenal hormones to weak oestrogens)
- Early menarche, late menopause
- Genetic predisposition (younger, don’t recognise bleeding as abnormal)
- PCOS
- Tamoxifen (anti-oestrogen in breast, mild oestrogenic effect in endometrium)
Signs &symptoms of endometrial cancer
- Post menopausal bleeding (if significant bleed or repeated 10% will have endometrial cancer)
- Continuing menstruation after aged 55
- Watery vaginal discharge
- Pelvic mass
- Glandular abnormalities on cervical smear
What occurs in a PMB clinic?
- Transvaginal USS (<5mm normal)
- Hysteroscopy (gold standard)
- Endometrial biopsy (pipelle as outpatient/endometrial curettage in theatre)