Gynaecological cancers Flashcards
Incidence of gynaecological cancers
- Uterine (endo,myo)
- Ovarian
- Cervical (commonest worldwide)
- Vulval
- Vaginal
Endometrial cancer histology
Around 80% of cases are adenocarcinoma
Risk factors for endometrial cancer
unopposed oestrogen stimulates the endometrial cells and increases the risk of endometrial hyperplasia and cance
T - tamoxifen (oestrogenic effect on the endometrium.)
A - age (increased)
M - menopause(late) , menarche (early)
P - PCOS ( leads to increased exposure to unopposed oestrogen due to a lack of ovulation)
O- obesity (adipose tissue (fat) is a source of oestrogen)
N - no/few pregnancies (during pregnancy, there is shifts towards progesterone, which is protective )
Protective factors against endometrial cancer
Combined contraceptive pill
Mirena coil
Increased pregnancies ( reduced ovulations, reduced estrogen)
Cigarette smoking ( anti-oestrogenic.)
Mx endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia
Reversible risk factors such as obesity and the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) should be identified and addressed
Progestogen treatment is indicated in women who fail to regress following observation alone and in symptomatic women with abnormal uterine bleeding.
1. Intrauterine system (e.g. Mirena coil)
2. Continuous oral progestogens (e.g. medroxyprogesterone or levonorgestrel)
Hysterectomy is indicated in women not wanting to preserve their fertility
Risk factors for endometrial cancer not related to unopposed oestrogen
Type 2 diabetes
Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)/Lynch syndrome
Clinical presenation endometrial cancer
postmenopausal bleeding
Postcoital bleeding
Intermenstrual bleeding ( metrorrhagia)
Unusually heavy menstrual bleeding
Abnormal increased vaginal discharge
Anaemia
Raised platelet count
pyometra (a collection of pus in the uterine cavity)
symptoms of advanced disease: pelvic pain, pelvic mass, leg swelling, haematuria, PR bleeding
symptoms of metastatic disease :cough, shortness of breath or haemoptysis, abdominal pain and jaundice, bone pain, hypercalcaemia and pathological fractures
2 ww endometrial cancer
55 and over with postmenopausal bleeding (more than 12 months after the last menstrual period)
Consider 2ww if <55y with post menopausal bleed
Transvaginal US for endometrial cancer if women 55y and over with
Unexplained vaginal discharge +- thrombocytosis, haematuria
Visible haematuria + low Hb or thrombocytosis or high glucose levels
Ix endometrial cancer
Transvaginal ultrasound for endometrial thickness (normal is less than 4mm post-menopause)
If thickness is >4: Pipelle biopsy or Hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy
FIGO staging for endometrial cancer
Stage 1: Confined to the uterus
Stage 2: Invades the cervix
Stage 3: Invades the ovaries, fallopian tubes, vagina or lymph nodes
Stage 4: Invades bladder, rectum or beyond the pelvis
Mx endometrial cancer
Stage 1 &2- total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
Radiotherapy
Chemotherapy
Progesterone may be used as a hormonal treatment to slow the progression of the cancer
hormonal therapies such as tamoxifen and progestogens can be used in advanced or recurrent diseas/palliative
Types of ovarian cancer
Epithelial cell tumours
Dermoid cysts/germ cell tumours
Sex Cord-Stromal Tumours
Krukenberg tumour
metastasis in the ovary, usually from a gastrointestinal tract cancer, particularly the stomach
“signet-ring” cells on histology
Ovarian cancer risk factors
Age
BRCA1&2
Increased oovulations
Smoking
Recurrent use of clomifene
Diabetes
endometrial cancer and ovarian cysts
Factors that increase the number of ovulations, increase the risk of ovarian cancer. These include:
Early-onset of periods
Late menopause
No pregnancies
Factors that stop ovulation or reduce the number of lifetime ovulations, reduce the ovarian cancer risk:
Combined contraceptive pill >10 years
Breastfeeding
Pregnancy (have about half the risk of ovarian cancer of women without children) > 3 pregnancies
Hysterectomy, tubal ligation
Exercise
Aspirin
Clinical presenation ovarian cancer
Abdominal bloating
Early satiety (feeling full after eating)
Loss of appetite
Pelvic pain
Urinary symptoms (frequency / urgency)
Weight loss
Abdominal or pelvic mass
Ascites
Post menopausal bleeding
Bowel symptoms
2ww ovarian cancer
if a physical examination reveals:
Ascites
Pelvic mass or Abdominal mass (unless clearly due to fibroids)
Carry out tests in primary care for ovarian cancer if
a woman (especially if 50 years or over) reports
Persistent abdominal distension.
Feeling full (early satiety) and/or loss of appetite.
Pelvic or abdominal pain.
Increased urinary urgency and/or frequency.
If CA125 is 35 IU/mL or higher, you should arrange an urgent US scan of her abdomen and pelvis