Gynaecological Tumours Flashcards
How common are vulval tumours and who do they affect the most?
Uncommon (approx 3% of female genital cancers)
2/3rds in women over 60
What are the types of vulval tumours?
Squamous cell carcinoma - most common
Extramammary Paget’s disease
Basal cell carcinoma
Malignant melanoma
Risk factors for vulval squamous cell carcinoma?
Same for cervical carcinomas:
- HPV
- intercourse
- early marriage
- early first pregnancy
- multiple births
- many partners
- promiscuous partner
- long term use of OCP
- partner with carcinoma of the penis
- low socio-economic class
- smoking
- immunosuppression
What are the usual causes of squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva in older and younger women?
70s - long standing inflammatory and hyperplastic conditions of the vulva eg lichen sclerosis
50s - usually HPV and risk factors same as cervical carcinoma
What is the precursor to squamous neoplastic lesions of the vulva?
Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN)
-atypical squamous cells within the epidermis (no invasion)
Which lymph nodes does vulval squamous cell carcinoma spread to?
Where else?
Inguinal, pelvic, iliac and para-aortic lymph node
Lungs and liver
Survival if a lesion of vulval squamous cell carcinoma is less than 2cm?
Following which procedures?
90% 5 year survival
Vulvectomy and lymphadenectomy
Where includes gynaecological tumours?
Cervix Endometrium Myometrium Ovary Vulva Tumours of gestation
What are the two important viruses causing cervical carcinoma?
HPV 16
HPV 18
How do the viruses cause squamous cell carcinoma?
Infect immature metaplastic squamous cells in the transformation zone
Produce viral proteins which interfere with activity of tumour suppressor genes - inability to repair damaged DNA and increase proliferation of cells
Risk factors for CIN and cervical carcinoma?
Sexual intercourse Early first marriage Early first pregnancy Multiple births Many partners Promiscuous partner Long term use of OCP Partner with carcinoma of penis Low socio-economic class Smoking Immunosuppression
Why is cervical screening so successful?
Cervix accessible to visual examination and sampling
Slow progression from precursor lesions to invasive cancers
Pap test detects precursor lesions and low stage cancers
Allows early diagnosis and curative therapy
How is the cervical screening done?
Cells from transformation zone are scraped off, stained with Papanicolaou stain and examined microscopically
When is cervical screening done?
Starts age 25
Every three years until 50
Every 5 years from 50-65
What happens if the result of cervical screening is abnormal?
Referred for colposcopy (visualisation of cervix) and biopsy
For how many years does the vaccine against HPV protect for?
Up to 10 years
What is cervical intraepithelial neoplasia?
Dysplasia of squamous cells within the cervical epithelium, induced by infection with high risk HPVs
What is dysplasia?
Enlargement of an organ/tissue by the proliferation of cells of an abnormal type - early stage in development of cancer
What are the CIN stages?
What is the outcome of each one?
CIN I - most regress spontaneously and a small % progress to..
CIN II
CIN III - carcinoma in situ - 10% progress to invasive carcinoma in 2-10 years, 30% regress
How long does it take to go from CIN I to CIN III
7 years
What is the management of each CIN stage?
CIN I - follow-up or cryotherapy
CIN II and III - superficial excision
Average age of presentation of cervical carcinoma?
45
What are the most common types of cervical carcinomas?
80% squamous cell carcinoma
15% adenocarcinoma
Where can cervical carcinoma spread to?
Para-cervical soft tissues, bladder, ureters, rectum, vagina
Lymph nodes - para-cervical, pelvic, para-aortic
Distally
How does cervical carcinoma usually present?
Screening abnormality
Postcoital, intermenstrual or postmenopausal vaginal bleeding
Treatment of cervical carcinoma?
Microinvasive - cervical cone excision - 100% survival
Invasive - hysterectomy, lymph node dissection, radiation and chemotherapy - 62% 10 year survival
What is the endometrium made up of?
Glands with a cellular stroma
What is the frequent precursor to endometrial carcinoma?
Endometrial hyperplasia
-increased gland to stroma ratio
What is endometrial hyperplasia associated with?
Annovulation
Increased oestrogen from endogenous sources eg adipose tissue
Exogenous oestrogen
How is endometrial carcinoma treated?
If complex and atypical, hysterectomy
What age does endometrial adenocarcinoma affect?
55-75, unusual before 40
Usual presentation of endometrial adenocarcinoma?
Irregular or postmenopausal vaginal bleeding
How common is endometrial adenocarcinoma?
Very common - most common invasive cancer of female genital tract
75% 10 year survival