Malignant disease of the uterus Flashcards
Since 1990, mortality from endometrial cancer has:
Decreased by 30% Decreased by 10% Increased by 25% Increased by 33% Increased by 50%
The answer is increased by 25%.
What percentage of endometrial cancer is due to lifestyle and other known risk factors?
7% 17% 27% 37% 47%
37%
The answer is 37%. This is secondary to obesity and other risk factors, such as unopposed HRT usage.
What is the peak age for developing endometrial cancer?
40–49 years old 50–59 years old 60–69 years old 70–79 years old 80–89 years old
70–79 years old
The answer is 70–79 years old.
What is the incidence of endometrial cancer in the UK (per 100 000 women)?
19 28 38 45 54
70–79 years old
The answer is 70–79 years old.
Regarding staging for endometrial cancer:
A - Pelvic lymph node involvement constitutes stage IIIC disease
B - Endocervical gland involvement is stage III disease
C - Lymphadenectomy is required to perform an adequate FIGO staging
D - Less than 50% of myometrial involvement defines FIGO stage IA
E - Positive peritoneal washings is stage IIIA
A - The answer is true. Pelvic lymph node involvement is stage IIIC1 disease. Involvement of the para-aortic nodes with or without pelvic nodes is stage IIIC2 disease.
B - The answer is false. Endocervical gland involvement and disease otherwise limited to the uterus is stage I disease and subclassified by the degree of myometrial invasion.
C - The answer is true. The role of lymphadenectomy in the management of endometrial cancer is under continual debate. The publication of the ASTEC study has not abated this. There will be regional and national variation in practice.
D - True
E - The answer is false. Peritoneal cytology is no longer a feature of staging for endometrial cancer. If performed, this is reported separately.
Regarding prognostic factors of endometrial cancer,
A - Uterine size
B - Cervical involvement
C - Grade
A - The answer is false. Uterine size used to be part of the staging procedure; however, with the onset of accurate imaging of the uterus, this is no longer a variable.
B - The answer is true. This upstages the cancer to stage II.
C - The answer is true. This has a bearing on survival.
Which of the following risk factors increase the likelihood of endometrial cancer?
Overweight/obesity
Diabetes
Smoking
Family history of hereditary non-polyposis coli (HNPCC)/Lynch II syndrome
Being nulliparous
A - true. owing to increased level of estrogen available in the postmenopausal woman and also the disruption of ovulatory cycles in the premenopausal woman.
B - true. This is owing to the enhancing effects of insulin and insulin-like growth factors on estrogen receptors in uterine tissue.
C - false because of antiestrogenic effects of nicotine.
D - true. There is a genetic link with colorectal and endometrial cancer in the Lynch II syndrome.
E - true. Nulliparous women have increased number of cycles and, thus, more exposure to unopposed estrogen.
Which of the following risk factors increase the likelihood of endometrial cancer?
Low-dose estrogen combined oral contraception
A late menopause
Progestogen use
A - False. This actually decreases risk of endometrial cancer b/c of protective effect of combined oral contraceptive.
B - True. Women have an increased number of cycles and thus more exposure to unopposed estrogen.
C - False. This actually decreases the risk of endometrial cancer.
Which of the following risk factors increase the likelihood of endometrial cancer?
Taking unopposed hormone replacement therapy
Taking tamoxifen
Polycystic ovary syndrome
A - True. Taking unopposed estrogen in the form of hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of endometrial cancer by 50%.
B - True. There is an excess of two in every 10 000 cases per year with tamoxifen usage.
C - True. There are many mechanisms where polycytic ovary syndrome patients have increased risks of endometrial cancer but predominantly the main cause of the risk is the increased number of anovulatory cycles and, therefore, increased exposure to unopposed estrogen.
Concerning the prevalence of gynaecological malignancies:
Endometrial cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women in the UK, with over 9000 new cases per year
The most common female malignancy in women in the UK is breast cancer
The incidence of endometrial cancer has been falling with the introduction of cervical screening
The UK has the second highest incidence of endometrial cancer in the European Union
Cervical and vulval cancer are more prevalent in women in the UK than endometrial cancer
A - True. The incidence of breast cancer far outweighs that of endometrial cancer.
B - False. The incidence has actually increased over the last decade and cervical screening has little bearing on the detection of endometrial cancer.
C - False. There are a number of socioeconomic and possible ethnic reasons for this but it is unclear of the individual contribution of these factors.
D - The answer is false.
Regarding the investigation of postmenopausal bleeding:
All patients should have an endometrial biopsy performed
In total, 20% of women seen in a postmenopausal bleeding clinic will have endometrial cancer
In total, 10% of women seen in a postmenopausal bleeding clinic will have endometrial cancer
Hysteroscopy should be performed as an outpatient procedure only
A - False. The risk of endometrial cancer falls in relation to the endometrial thickness measurement on ultrasound (e.g. if the endometrial thickness is less than 5 mm, then the risk of endometrial cancer being the diagnosis is less than 1%). Therefore, it would be acceptable not to perform endometrial sampling. (, this is dependent on local guidelines where the cut-off may be lower at 4 mm in order to decrease the risk of missing a cancer.)
B - True. This shows that over 90% of women with this symptom will not have a malignancy.
C - False. Where possible, outpatient assessment and sampling of the endometrium should be carried out (e.g. TVS, outpatient hysteroscopy or biopsy). However, if this is unsuccessful, then it may be necessary to perform these tests in terms of a hysteroscopy and curettage.
The regression rate of complex atypical hyperplasia treated with progestogens
1 - 5 % 25 % 50- 75 % 60 % 90 %
The answer is 60%.
Simple hyperplasia: 1–5 Malignant potential (%)
Complex hyperplasia: 25 Malignant potential (%)
Atypical hyperplasia: 50–75 Malignant potential (%)
Untreated simple and complex hyperplasia
- 90 (spontaneous): Regression rate (%)
- 1–5: Progression rate (%)
Atypical hyperplasia** The degree of atypia correlates with regression rates after progesterone
- 60 (spontaneous): Regression rate (%)
- 25: Progression rate (%)
The progression rate of complex atypical hyperplasia treated with progestogens
1 - 5 % 25 % 50- 75 % 60 % 90 %
The answer is 25%.
Simple hyperplasia: 1–5 Malignant potential (%)
Complex hyperplasia: 25 Malignant potential (%)
Atypical hyperplasia: 50–75 Malignant potential (%)
Untreated simple and complex hyperplasia
- 90 (spontaneous): Regression rate (%)
- 1–5: Progression rate (%)
Atypical hyperplasia** The degree of atypia correlates with regression rates after progesterone
- 60 (spontaneous): Regression rate (%)
- 25: Progression rate (%)
The risk of malignancy in simple hyperplasia
1 - 5 % 25 % 50- 75 % 60 % 90 %
The answer is 1–5%.
Simple hyperplasia: 1–5 Malignant potential (%)
Complex hyperplasia: 25 Malignant potential (%)
Atypical hyperplasia: 50–75 Malignant potential (%)
Untreated simple and complex hyperplasia
- 90 (spontaneous): Regression rate (%)
- 1–5: Progression rate (%)
Atypical hyperplasia** The degree of atypia correlates with regression rates after progesterone
- 60 (spontaneous): Regression rate (%)
- 25: Progression rate (%)
The malignant potential for complex atypical hyperplasia
1 - 5 % 25 % 50- 75 % 60 % 90 %
The answer is 50–75%.
Simple hyperplasia: 1–5 Malignant potential (%)
Complex hyperplasia: 25 Malignant potential (%)
Atypical hyperplasia: 50–75 Malignant potential (%)
Untreated simple and complex hyperplasia
- 90 (spontaneous): Regression rate (%)
- 1–5: Progression rate (%)
Atypical hyperplasia** The degree of atypia correlates with regression rates after progesterone
- 60 (spontaneous): Regression rate (%)
- 25: Progression rate (%)
The rate of spontaneous regression for untreated simple hyperplasia
1 - 5 % 25 % 50- 75 % 60 % 90 %
The answer is 90%. For more information, see the tables later in this section.
Simple hyperplasia: 1–5 Malignant potential (%)
Complex hyperplasia: 25 Malignant potential (%)
Atypical hyperplasia: 50–75 Malignant potential (%)
Untreated simple and complex hyperplasia
- 90: spontaneous Regression rate (%)
- 1–5: Progression rate (%)
Atypical hyperplasia** The degree of atypia correlates with regression rates after progesterone
- 60: spontaneous Regression rate (%)
- 25: Progression rate (%)
FIGO stages for endometrial cancer. Histologically proven endometrial cancer, radiologically confined to the uterus. Treated by a standard hysterectomy and bilateral salpingoopherectomy. Pathology of the specimens showed an endometrioid carcinoma confined to the inner half of the myometrium; however, peritoneal washings were positive 1 1 A 1 B 2 3 A 3 B 3 C 3 C 1 3 C 2 4 A 4 B Unable to satge
The answer is IA.
FIGO stages for endometrial cancer. At time of hysteroscopy, abnormal lesions were found in the uterus, at the cervix and also on the upper portion of vagina. An MRI scan did not show any pelvic spread otherwise. Biopsy of these lesions showed adenocarcinoma consistent with an endometrial origin 1 1 A 1 B 2 3 A 3 B 3 C 3 C 1 3 C 2 4 A 4 B Unable to satge
The answer is IIIB.
FIGO stages for endometrial cancer. Poorly differentiated endometrial cancer, which has invaded more than 50% of the myometrial thickness 1 1 A 1 B 2 3 A 3 B 3 C 3 C 1 3 C 2 4 A 4 B Unable to satge
The answer is IB.
FIGO stages for endometrial cancer. Well-differentiated endometrial cancer. Treated by a simple hysterectomy and is found to have a large pelvic lymph node, which is sampled and is found to contain metastatic cancer. No other evidence of distant metastases is found 1 1 A 1 B 2 3 A 3 B 3 C 3 C 1 3 C 2 4 A 4 B Unable to satge
The answer is IIIC1.
In a case where endometrial cancer is confirmed but the woman is considered unfit for surgery, what are the options that are open to her?
A - Supportive and/or palliative treatment
B - Hormonal treatment
C - Radical radiotherapy
D - Palliative radiotherapy
All are true
A - However, the woman needs to be fully counselled with regards to the palliative nature of management.
B - Again, the woman needs to be counselled that this is not curative but palliative in intent.
C - If the tumour is thought to be early stage and amenable to surgery but medically unfit; however, each case has to be discussed on its merits and through the multidisciplinary team.
D - However, woman needs to be counselled on palliative intent and this is usually if woman is symptomatic with bleeding.
In relation to adjuvant treatment for endometrial cancer:
A - Postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy improves survival for the low- and medium-risk patients
B - Endometrial cancer recurrence has a good salvage rate with radiotherapy
C - Women who recur after adjuvant external-beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy can be retreated again with radiotherapy
A - FALSE
B - TRUE
C - FALSE
A - There is evidence to show that there is no survival benefit although there was a reduction in locoregional recurrences.
B - This is why the overall survival for women who do not receive adjuvant therapy is equal to those who do.
C - Once the maximum radical dose of radiotherapy has been administered the woman cannot be rechallenged with a further radical course of radiotherapy.
A woman returns to your clinic for a discussion of the pathology results of the TAH. An excerpt of a report reads as follows:
‘Poorly differentiated endometrioid adenocarcinoma invading more than half of the myometrium and extends to endocervical glands.’
Things to consider when answering the below:
1 - What is the stage and grade of the tumour and will she need further adjuvant therapy?
2 - If the cell type were a uterine serous papillary carcinoma, would there be any difference in the treatment?
Regarding adjuvant treatment for the aforementioned case:
The risk of recurrence and nodal metastases is low, and no further treatment is necessary
The answer is false. This woman is at high risk of recurrence and lymph node metastases are significant; therefore, adjuvant therapy should be offered.
A woman returns to your clinic for a discussion of the pathology results of the TAH. An excerpt of a report reads as follows:
‘Poorly differentiated endometrioid adenocarcinoma invading more than half of the myometrium and extends to endocervical glands.’
Things to consider when answering the below:
1 - What is the stage and grade of the tumour and will she need further adjuvant therapy?
2 - If the cell type were a uterine serous papillary carcinoma, would there be any difference in the treatment?
Regarding adjuvant treatment for the aforementioned case:
The risk of spread to the iliac nodes is in the region of 15–20%
The answer is true.