Gynaecology Flashcards
What is the most common cause of ovarian cancer?
Epithelial ovarian tumours
What are the risk factors of ovarian cancer?
- Increasing age
- Lifestyle (smoking, obesity and lack of exercise)
- Nulliparous
- Early menarche/ late menopause
- BRCA1& 2
- Endometriosis
- Infertility
- FHx
Presentation of germ cell tumours in ovarian cancer?
- Common in women <35
- Rapidly enlarging abdominal mass
What is the clinical presentation of ovarian cancer?
- Majority in 3rd/4th stage
-
IBS (ABC):
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Change in bowel habits: urgency
- Urinary frequency
- Dyspepsia
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Painful mass
Who is most affected by ovarian cancer?
Elderly
What are the investigations for ovarian cancer?
- CA125 tumour marker
- Abdominal US + CT
What is the staging for ovarian cancer?
1) Ovaries
2) One/both ovaries + pelvic extension/implants
3) One/both ovaries + microscopically confirmed peritoneal implants outside pelvis
4) One/both ovaries + distant metastasis
What is the management of ovarian cancer?
Abdominal hysterectomy + bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy
Chemotherapy: stages 2-4
Radiotherapy
What is endometrial cancer?
Cancer of the endometrium (lining of the uterus)
Oestrogen dependent tumour
Includes myometrial sarcoma
What is the pathophysiology of endometrial cancer?
Unopposed oestrogen → endometrial hyperplasia → increased risk of endometrial adenocarcinoma
What are the risk factors for endometrial cancer?
Prolonged exposure of unopposed oestrogen:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Nulliparity
- Late menopause
- HRT
- Pelvic irradiation
What is the most common type of endometrial cancer?
Adenocarcinomas
What are the two types of endometrial cancer?
Type 1= Oestrogen dependent endometrioid carcinomas
Type 2= Oestrogen-independent non-endometrioid carcinomas
Who does endometrial cancer affect the most?
Majority >50 years old
What is the most common type of gynaecological cancer?
Endometrial cancer
What is the clinical presentation of endometrial cancer?
- Post-menopausal bleeding/abnormal uterine bleeding
- Menorrhagia/oligomenorrhea in pre-menopausal
What are the investigations for endometrial cancer?
- Pelvic and abdominal examination
- Transvaginal US: endometrial thickness >4mm
- Endometrial pipelle biopsy: if US >4mm
- Hysteroscopy
What staging is used for endometrial cancer?
FIGO
What is the management of endometrial cancer?
- Total abdominal/laparoscopic hysterectomy
- Bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy
- Post-operative chemotherapy
- Pelvic lymph node removal
- Adjuvant radiotherapy + progesterone therapy
What are the causes of cervical cancer?
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
What is Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN)?
AKA cervical dysplasia
Abnormal cervical cell growth that can potentially lead to cervical cancer
Describe the 3 grades of CIN
CIN I= lower basal 1/3 of cervical epithelium
CIN II= affects <2/3 of cervical epithelium
CIN III= affects >2/3 of full thickness epithelium
Who is screened for cervical cancer?
25-49: every 3 years
50-65: every 5 years
What is dyskaryosis?
Abnormal nucleus: the abnormal epithelial cell in cervical smears
What test would you order if you see borderline/mild dyskaryosis in a smear?
Test for HPV:
- -ve = back to routine screening
- +ve= colposcopy
What test would you order if you see moderate dyskaryosis in a smear?
- Urgent colposcopy: within 2 weeks
- Consistent with CIN II
What test would you order if you see severe dyskaryosis or suspected invasive cancer?
- Urgent colposcopy: within 2 weeks.
- Consistent with CIN III
What test would you order if you see inadequate smears?
What if they keep being inadequate?
- Inadequate = repeat smear
- Consistently inadequate = colposcopy
Why is the incidence of cervical cancer decreasing?
- Screening: cervical smears
- HPV vaccine
What is the most common type of cervical cancer?
Squamous cell
What are the risk factors for cervical cancer?
- Persistent HPV infection
- Early intercourse (<16yrs)
- STI’s
- Multiparty
- Multiple sexual partners
- Smoking (limits ability to clear HPV)
- Immunosuppression
- COCP
- Non-attendance of cervical screening programme
What % of cervical cancers are found through screening?
30%
What age group does cervical cancer primarily affect?
25-34
What is the clinical presentation of cervical cancer?
- Pelvic mass
- Vaginal discomfort/urinary symptoms
- Vaginal discharge
- Red or white patches on cervix
- Haematuria
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Post-micturition bleeding
- Post-coital bleeding
- Polyuria
- Haematuria
What is the red flag symptom for cervical cancer?
Post-coital bleeding
What are the investigations for cervical cancer?
- Bimanual examination (rough and hard cervix)
- CA125 tumour marker
- Trans-vaginal USS
- Calculate the RMI (risk of malignancy index): if >250 = 2 week wait referral
- Colposcopy + cystoscopy
- Punch biopsy
- CT: metastasis
- PET: for staging (FIGO)
What type of staging is used for cervical cancer?
FIGO
What is the management of cervical cancer?
- <2cm: loop removal
- > 2cm: radical hysterectomy
- > 4cm: radiotherapy + chemotherapy + palliative care
What must you consider when treating cervical cancer?
Fertility
What is the cause of vulval cancer?
Vulval intraepithelial neoplasia
What is the most common form of vulval cancer?
Squamous
What is the clinical presentation of vulval cancers?
- Vulval itch/sore
- Persistent lump
- Post-menopausal bleeding
- Painful micturition
What is the management of vulval cancers?
- Surgery: radical or conservative
- Radiotherapy
- Chemotherapy
What is the cause of vaginal cancers?
- HPV
- Metastatic spread from cervical/uterine
What are the symptoms of vaginal cancer?
Bleeding
What is the treatment of vaginal cancers?
Radiotherapy
What is the prognosis of vaginal cancers?
Poor
What is the pathophysiology of BRACA1/2 genes in breast cancer?
Faulty BRCA1 and 2 gene (tumour suppressant) increases risk of breast cancer
What are the majority of carcinomas split into?
1) Ductal OR lobular
2) In situ (not penetrating BM) OR invasive
What can In situ ductal carcinomas progress into?
Invasive
What is the most common breast invasive breast cancer?
Invasive ductal: oestrogen receptor positive
What staging is used in breast cancer?
TMN:
- Tumour
- T0= No evidence primary
- T1= <2 cm
- T2= 2-5 cm
- T3= >5 cm
- T4= Extends to chest wall or skin or inflammatory
- Nodes
- N0= No Nodes
- N1= Mobile Nodes
- N2= Fixed/matted nodes
- N3= Internal Mammary nodes
- Metastasis
- M0= No Metastases
- M1= Metastases
What’s the referral criteria for breast cancer?
2WW= >30 with breast lump ± pain
2WW= >50 with 1 of: discharge, retraction OR concerning nipple
What is the screening for breast cancer?
50-71yrs Mammogram:
- Satisfactory
- Unsatisfactory
- Unclear
What are the modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for breast cancer?
Modifiable:
- Weight
- Exercise
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- HRT
Non-modifiable:
- Age
- Breast density
- Menopause age
- BRCA1& 2
Why is the incidence of breast cancer thought to be increasing?
- Western lifestyle
- Screening
- Increasing life expectancy
What is the clinical presentation of breast cancer?
May be asymptomatic in early stages
Breast and/or axillary lump: normally painless
Irregular
Hard/firm
Fixed to skin/muscle
Breast skin:
- Change to normal appearance
- Skin tethering
- Oedema
- Peau d’orange: thickened and dimpled skin
Nipples:
- Inversion
- Discharge (especially if bloody)
- Dilated veins
- Paget’s disease of the nipple
Features of metastatic spread (2Ls 2BS; bone, liver, lung, brain)
What is the triple assessment in breast cancer?
Triple assessment:
- Mammography
- High resolution US
- Core needle biopsy
Scored against:
- Clinical score: 1-5
- Imaging score: 1-5
- Biopsy score: 1-5
Followed by MDT meeting
What are the investigations you can order for breast cancer?
Triple assessment
MRI/US breast
Receptor testing:
- Oestrogen receptor status
Genetic testing (BRCA2)
FBC, CRP, ESR
Sentinel node biopsy
What biopsy should you do to ensure that the breast cancer hasn’t spread to the axillary lymph nodes?
Sentinel node biopsy
What is the tumour marker for breast cancer?
CA 15-3
What can microcalcifications indicate on a mammogram?
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS)
Give 4 treatment options for patients with breast cancer
- Conservative surgery + radiotherapy
- Mastectomy + radiotherapy
- Mastectomy + reconstruction + radiotherapy (BUT can damage a lot of reconstructions)
- Axillary lymph node removal (limited or full)
+ Adjuvant trastuzumab, tamoxifen OR anastrozole
When would you perform breast conservation in breast cancer?
- Small tumour relative to breast size (<25%)
- Pre-op chemotherapy and radiotherapy also offered
- Contradicted if under nipple
When would you perform a mastectomy in breast cancer?
- Large tumour relative to breast size
- Tumour underneath nipple/ in drawing nipple
- More than one cancer in same breast
- Delayed reconstruction
- Patient choice
What percentage of breast cancers have axillary disease?
40%
When would you use full-axillary clearance in breast cancer?
If glands are clinically involved
No need for further surgery
What are the complications of full-axillary clearance in breast cancer?
- Lymphedema
- Seromas
- Arm stiffness
- Drain
- Axillary numbness
When would you perform limited axillary surgery in breast cancer?
Glands are clinically normal
What are the benefits of limited surgery in breast cancer?
- Day surgery
- No significant complications
- No drains
What medication would you offer HER-2+ve breast cancer post-op?
Biologic: a HER2 monoclonal antibody
- Trastuzumab
What medication would you offer ER/PR+ve breast cancer post-op for women:
- Pre-menopausal?
- Post-menopausal?
Endocrine therapy:
- Pre= Tamoxifen (inhibits oestrogen receptors on breast cancer cells)
- Post= Anastrozole (aromatase inhibitor; prevents androgens → oestrogen conversion)
When in breast cancer would you offer:
- Radiotherapy?
- Chemotherapy?
Radiotherapy: lumpectomy + aggressive after mastectomy
Chemotherapy: aggressive + high risk (e.g young age, HER-2 +ve, triple-negative receptor, Grade 3, Node +ve and tumour size)
Who is atrophic vaginitis common in and why?
Post-menopausal women due to falling levels of oestrogen
What are the causes of atrophic vaginitis?
- Menopause
- Oophorectomy
- Anti-oestrogen treatments (e.g Tamoxifen and Anastrozole )
- Radiotherapy
- Chemotherapy
- Post-partum: reduced oestrogen levels
What changes are seen to the vaginal mucosa when oestrogen falls?
- Thinner
- Drier
- Less elastic
- More fragile
When oestrogen levels fall, what changes are seen to the vaginal epithelium?
Inflammation →urinary symptoms
When oestrogen levels fall, this changes vaginal pH, flora and periurethral tissues.
Why is this bad?
- Vaginal pH/flora: UTI’s or vaginal infections
- Periurethral tissues: pelvic laxity and stress incontinence
What is the clinical presentation of atrophic vaginitis?
- Vaginal dryness
- Burning/itching of vagina
- Dyspareunia
- Vaginal discharge
- Post-menopausal bleeding
- Reduced pubic hair
- Painful vaginal examination
- Lack of vaginal folds
- Polyuria
- Nocturia
- Dysuria
- UTIs
- Stress/urgency incontinence
Which investigations are used for atrophic vaginitis?
- Diagnosis of exclusion
- TVS: rules out pathology
What is the management of atrophic vaginitis?
- Vaginal lubricants and moisturisers
- Vaginal oestrogen
- HRT
What are fibroids?
Benign tumours of uterine myometrium smooth muscle cells
What are fibroids stimulated by?
Oestrogen and progesterone
Why may fibroids go through benign degeneration and calcification?
Centre of larger fibroids not receiving adequate blood supply
How are fibroids classified?
- Intramural
- Submucosal
- Subserosal
What is the most common type of fibroid?
Intramural
Define intramural fibroids
Growing within the endometrium
Define submucosal fibroids
Growing into the uterine cavity (can be pedunculated and may protrude through cervical os)
Define subserosal fibroids
Growing outwards from the uterus (abdominal)
What causes fibroids?
- Acquired genetic change
- Hormones
- Growth factors
What are the risk factors for fibroids?
- Obesity
- Early menarche
- Afro-caribbean
- 30-40 yrs
- FHx
- COCP
- Pregnancy
What is the most common indication for a hysterectomy?
Fibroids
What is the clinical presentation of fibroids?
- Asymptomatic
- 30-50 yrs
- Infertility/sub-fertility
- Menorrhagia
- Pressure symptoms e.g. urinary frequency if pressing on bladder
- Menorrhagia → Iron deficiency anaemia → lethargy and pallor
- Pelvic pain
- Recurrent miscarriages
What may be found on a physical examination for fibroids?
Palpable abdominal mass arising from pelvis
What investigations are ordered for fibroids?
- Abdominal + bimanual examination: palpable abdominal mass arising from pelvis
- Pregnancy test
- FBC (anaemia)
- TVUS
- MRI: if US not definitive
- Hysteroscopy
What is the management for fibroids?
Conservative: watch and wait
Suppression of ovarian function for at least 6 months:
- Mirena coil: 1st line
- COCP: e.g. triphasing (3 months continuous then break)
- Medroxyprogesterone acetate (injectable contraception)
- Progestogens: norethisterone (no bleeding)
- POP: e.g. mini pill (no bleeding)
Anti-fibrinolytics: e.g. Tranexamic acid (during bleeding)
NSAIDS: e.g. Mefanamic acid (during bleeding)
GnRH agonist: e.g. Goserelin (max 6 months)
Myomectomy
Hysterectomy (only cure for fibroids in women who have completed their family)
Ulipristal acetate (shrinks fibroid)
When would you do a myomectomy in fibroids?
- Excessively enlarged uterine size
- Pressure symptoms
- Symptoms uncontrolled by medication
- Subfertility
Name a GnRH agonist and its cons for use in fibroids
Goserelin: shrinks fibroids, but then they regrow once discontinued
Not a long term option- demineralises bone
What is ulipristal acetate and when is it used in fibroids?
- Selective progesterone receptor modulator
- Shrinks fibroids and induces amenorrhoea
- Used before surgery and as an emergency contraception
What is the gold standard treatment for uterine fibroids?
Hysterectomy
What are the three main types of ovarian cysts?
- Benign (70%)
- Functional (24%)
- Malignant (6%)
Name some benign neoplastic ovarian cysts
- Benign epithelial neoplastic cysts
- Benign neoplastic cystic tumours of germ cell origin
- Benign neoplastic solid tumours (Fibroma <1% malignant)
Name some benign fibrous ovarian cysts
- Adenofibroma
- Teratoma
- Brenner tumour
What are brenner tumour ovarian cysts?
Brenner tumours are part of the surface epithelial-stromal tumour group of ovarian neoplasms.
Majority benign