Uterine Malignancy Flashcards
When do endometrial polyps occur?
- around/after menopause
What are the types of endometrial hyperplasia?
simple
complex
atypical (precursor of CA)
What is endometrial hyperplasia?
- overgrowth of endometrial glands and stroma
Where is the endometrial polyp in the uterus on slide 4
- at the fundus
Describe appearance of the polyp.
smooth shiny surface
Describe the microscopy of Simple endometrial hyperplasia.
- incr. in volume of stroma and glands
- normal nuclear fts/cytology
- glands NOT crowded
Describe complex endometrial hyperplasia.
- glands are very crowded
- –normal cytology
What is it if the cells are atypical and crowded glands are seen?
- atypical endometrial hyperplasia
When is a complex atypical hyperplasia considered to be malignant?
- once glands fuse= Malignancy
Most common endometrial CA?
endometroid ca
IS post-menopausal bleeding bad?
- yes
- at risk of CANCER
Which enodmetrial CA is at risk of spreading elsewhere?
-serous CA
What are the diff. types of endometrial ca?
- clear cell (high grade)
- Serous CA (high grade)
- Endometroid Ca
Where is the endometrial tumor likely to spread to?
- directly into the MYOMETRIUM and CERVIX —-once its in the OUTER path of myometrium- this is concerning; d.t presence of LARGE blood vessels
- Lymphatic
- Hematogenous
Most endometrial ca is _______
well differentiated and ADENOCARCINOMAS
What drives the growth of endometrium?
- estrogen
Why is obesity a risk factor of endometrialk cancer?
- adipocytes express aromatase that CONVERTS ovarian androgens into estrogens
- when they are obese SEX- hormone binding globulin levels are lower; SO HIGH unbound, active hormone
- altered insulin axn; insulin-binding globulin levels also reduced= HIGH free insulin levels –>Insulin/insulin-like growth factors (IGF) exert proliferative effect on endometrium.
Is LYNCH syndrome a RISK factor of endometrial cancer?
- YES
- HIGH RISK OF COLORECTAL CANCER, ENDOMETRIAL cancer and probability of developing ovarian cancer
How to test for Lynch Syndrome?
- immunohistochemistry staining of the TUMOR for mismatch repair proteins (identifies tumors d.t Lynch $)
- Lynch syndrome tumours also show microsatellite instability (MSI), a characteristic of defective mismatchrepair.
Testing cancer tissue for MSI can be useful.
What occurs after receiving positive lynch $ with genetic testing?
- genetic counselling follows if positive
Which is more common out of Type I or TYPE II tumors?
- serous Type II tumors
How may type ii tumors spread t the peritoneum?
- SPREADS along the fallopian tubes to the peritoneal surfaces = extra-uterine disease
- therefore spreads EARLY to the peritoneal cavity
Does endometrial ca have good prognosis?
Which type is most aggressive - Serous or Endometroid?
- yes because it is usually CONFINED to the uterus at presentation
- SEROUS!
Why is Grade 3 endomtrial cancer aggressive?
- has more mutations
- forgotten how to behvae (poorly differentiated)
At what stage does the tumor reach the serosa
—what occurs to it then?
- At stage IIIA
- —reaches serosa and/or the fallopian tubes, ovaries and ligaments of the uterus