Y4 Lectures Flashcards
Risk factors for vulval carcinoma?
HPV
Lichen sclerosis / lichen planus
Multiple sexual partners
Early first age of intercourse
Smoking
Vulval carcinomas are what type of cancers?
Squamous cell carcinoma
Symptoms of vulval carcinoma:
Common symptoms include: Pruritis, burning, soreness, bleeding, pain or a lump.
It is uncommon to find genital warts in postmenopausal women, hence any findings should be examined to rule out cancer. Most squamous cell carcinomas are unifocal andoccur on the labia majora.
Diagnosis of vulval carcinoma?
Keye’s punch biopsy
Treatment of vulval cancer?
- skim details
Surgical resection is gold standard.
- Wide local excision is recommended for small cancers.
- Partial radical vulvectomy is recommended for cancers that are confined to either side of the vulva, or the front or back only. This may mean that a large part of the vulva is removed. Usually, nearby lymph nodes are also removed.
- Complete radical vulvectomy is recommended for cancers that cover a large area of the vulva. The surgeon removes the entire vulva and the deep tissues around the vulva. Invariably the nearby lymph nodes are also removed.
Cell type of cervical cancer?
SCC
What viruses cause genital warts?
HPV 6 HPV 11
Cervical cancer risk factors:
HPV!!
- Smoking
- Other sexually transmitted infections
- Long-term(> 8 years) combined oral contraceptive pill use
- Immunodeficiency (e.g. HIV)
Clinical features of cervical cancer:
Most common symptom is abnormal vaginal bleeding (e.g post-coital, intermenstrual or post-menopausal).
Other features:
- Vaginal discharge (blood-stained, foul-smelling)
Dyspareunia
Pelvic pain
Weight loss
However, it is often asymptomatic – particularly in the early stages of disease – and many cases are detected throughroutine screening.
Clinical examinations for patients with suspected cervical cancer (for OSCE’s).
- Speculum examination– assess for evidence of bleeding, discharge and ulceration.
- Bimanual examination– assess for pelvic masses.
- GI examination– assess for hydronephrosis, hepatomegaly, rectal bleeding, mass on PR.
Cervical cancer differentials:
There are a large number of possible causes forabnormal vaginal bleeding. These include sexually transmitted infection, cervical ectropion, polyp, fibroids, and pregnancy related bleeding.
Investigations for suspected cervical cancer:
In a woman presenting with symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer, the initial investigation depends on age:
- Pre-menopausal– test for chlamydia trachomatis infection
- If positive; treat for chlamydia infection. If symptoms persist after treatment, refer for colposcopy and biopsy.
- If negative; a colposcopy and biopsy is usually performed.
- Post-menopausal– urgent colposcopy and biopsy.
Acolposcopyis where a colposcope (modified microscope) is used to produce a magnified view of the cervix. Acetic acid is used to stain dysplastic areas, and a biopsy is taken.
If the diagnosis of cervical cancer is confirmed, further investigations are required:
- Basic blood tests–such as full blood count, liver function tests and urea & electrolytes
- CT Chest-Abdomen-Pelvis–looking for metastases.
- Further staging scans–e.g. MRI pelvis, PET.
- +/- examination under anaesthesiawith further biopsies.
Note: The cervical cancer screening programme aims to detect pre-invasive disease (i.e CIN). Cervical smears are not used to detect cervical cancer.
Treatment of cervical cancer:
MDT - surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are all options.
Chemoradiation therapy is thegold standard.
- 5-8 weeks of radiotherapy + chemotherapy
Stage 4 = resection of all pelvic adnexae
Read the use of chemotherapy to treat cervical cancer:
Chemotherapy in cervical cancer is often cisplatin-based.
It can be given before treatment by surgery or radiotherapy (known asneoadjuvant chemotherapy), or after treatment (adjuvant chemotherapy).
It is also the mainstay of treatment in thepalliativesetting.
Skim note on patient follow up for cervical cancer:
Patients should be reviewed by a gynaecologist every 4 months after treatment has been completed for the first 2 years, and every 6-12 months for the subsequent 3 years.
All follow-ups should involve a physical examination of the vagina and cervix (if they haven’t been removed).
Name the two most common benign epithelial cell tumours:
Mucinous cystadenoma
Serous cystadenoma
What is pseudomyxoma peritonei?
If a mucinous cystadenoma ruptures, it may cause pseudomyxoma peritonei.
What type of tumour causes meigs syndrome?
Sex-cord stromal tumours: (ovarian tumour)
Fibroma – the most common stromal tumour. Important to know about as up to 40% present with Meig’s syndrome which is the association between these tumours and ascites/pleural effusion.
Investigations for pre-menopausal women with ovarian cysts?
If a diagnosis of a simple ovarian cyst has been made ultrasonographically, CA125 does not need to be undertaken. Lactate dehydrogenase, alphafetoprotein, and hCG should be measured in all women under 40 due to the possibility of germ cell tumours. Cysts should be rescanned in 6 weeks, and if they are persistent or over 5cm, laparoscopic cystectomy or oophorectomy may be considered.
Genetic links to ovarian cancer:
BRCA 1 & 2 genes - OC has a strong link to family history
HNPCC (lynch syndrome)
Ovarian cancer risk factors:
- Nulliparity
- Early menarche
- Late menopause
- Hormone replacement therapy containing oestrogen only
- Smoking
- Obesity
Ovarian cancer protective factors:
- Multiparity
- Combined contraceptive methods
- Breastfeeding
Ovarian cancer symptoms:
- Bloating
- Change in bowel habit
- Change in urinary frequency
- Weight loss
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Bleeding per vagina
When taking a history from patients it is important to bear in mind that the presentation of ovarian cancer is often vague causing a delay in diagnosis and presentation to specialists with advanced disease. Therefore, never ignore a postmenopausal patient with nonspecific gynaecological or gastrointestinal symptoms. Enquire specifically about:
Presentation of ovarian cysts / tumours:
- Incidental and asymptomatic– found on scanning for other reasons e.g. pregnancy.
- Chronic pain–may develop secondary to pressure on the bladder or bowel also causing frequency or constipation.
- It may also manifest as dyspareunia or cyclical pain in those patients with endometriosis who have developed chocolate cysts.
- Acute pain– these patients may have bleeding into the cyst, rupture or torsion.
- Bleeding per vagina.
What is the most common form of endometrial cancer?
The most common form of endometrial cancer is adenocarcinoma, which is caused by stimulation of the endometrium by oestrogen, without the protective effects of progesterone.
What is the main clinical feature of Endometrial cancer, and what is its differential diagnosis?
The main clinical feature of endometrial cancer is postmenopausal bleeding, and its differential diagnoses include vulval causes, cervical causes, and endometrial causes.
Diagnosis of endometrial cancer?
The investigations used to diagnose endometrial cancer include transvaginal ultrasound scan and endometrial biopsy.
Explain the management of endometrial hyperplasia:
Non-malignant hyperplasia without atypia can be treated with progestogens, while atypical hyperplasia should be treated with total abdominal hysterectomy + bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.
Read summary of endometrial cancer:
Endometrial cancer predominantly affects post-menopausal women, and its incidence has risen, possibly because of the increasing incidence of obesity. Its predominant symptom is postmenopausal bleeding, and women with menstrual irregularities or postmenopausal bleeding require further investigation. Hyperplasia and atypia may precede malignancy and should be treated, and followed up with surveillance biopsies. Where identified, endometrial cancer is usually stage I, and at this stage has a good survival rate.
Management of endometrial carcinoma:
The management offered in endometrial carcinoma is dependent on the stage of the cancer, and may include total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, radical hysterectomy, maximal de-bulking surgery, and adjuvant radiotherapy.
Link of endometrial cancer to obesity:
Approximately 40% of endometrial cancer cases are thought to belinked to obesity.
The greater the amount of subcutaneous fat, the faster the rate ofperipheral aromatisationof androgens to oestrogen – which increases unopposed oestrogen levels in post-menopausal women.
Risk factors for endometrial cancer:
Age
Obesity
Iatrogenic (oestrogen / tamoxifen)
Genetic - lynch syndrome / PCOS
Investigations for endometrial cancer:
- US - assess endometrial thickness.
- Biopsy for diagnosis.
- MRI pelvis / CT abdo pelvis or chest for staging.
Management summary of endometrial cancer:
- Hysterectomy for disease confined to the uterus
- Chemotherapy for high grade disease outside uterus
- Radiotherapy reduces risk of local recurrence
- Hormones (high dose progestogens) if desire to preserve fertility or unfit for other treatment
Cervical cancer ix
- Examination - colposcopy + biopsy.
- MRI
- PET CT
Indications for inducing labour:
- Offered after 40 weeks, particularly after 42 weeks.
- Premature rupture of membranes >37 weeks
- Maternal health problems (pre-eclampsia, diabetes, cholestasis).
- Fetal growth restriction.
- Intrauterine fetal death.
What are the three main methods of induction?
- Vaginal prostaglandins
- Amniotomy
- Membrane Sweep
How do prostaglandins induce labour?
Prostaglandins act to prepare the cervix for labour byripeningit, and also have a role in the contraction of the smooth muscle of the uterus.They come as either a tablet, gel or a controlled-release pessary.
Read summary on amniotomy:
An amniotomy is where the membranes are ruptured artificially using an instrument called anamnihook. As with a membrane sweep, this process releases prostaglandins in an attempt to expedite labour.It is only performed when the cervix has been deemed as ‘ripe’ (see Bishop Score below).
Often, an infusion of artificial oxytocin (Syntocinon) will be given alongside an amniotomy, acting to increase the strength and frequency of contractions. The aim is to start low and titrate upwards until there are 4 contractions every 10 minutes.
NICE guidelines (2008) advise that amniotomy +/- oxytocin should NOT be used as the primary method of IOL, unless use of prostaglandins are contraindicated e.g. high risk of uterine hyperstimulation.
Read summary on the membrane sweep:
Themembrane sweepis offered at 40 and 41 weeks’ gestation to nulliparous women, and 41 weeks to multiparous women.
It is classified as an adjunct of IOL. Performing it increases the likelihood ofspontaneous delivery, reducing the need for a formal induction.
The procedure is performed by inserting a gloved finger through cervix and rotating it against thefetal membranes, aiming to separate the chorionic membrane from the decidua.The separation helps to release natural prostaglandins in an attempt to kick-start labour.
Summary of the Bishop’s score:
The bishop score is an assessment of ‘cervical ripeness‘ based on measurements taken during vaginal examination. It is checked prior to induction, and during induction to assessprogress (6 hours post-table/gel, 24 hours post-pessary):
- Score of >8– suggests the cervix is ripe or ‘favourable’ – this means that there is a high chance of a response to interventions made to induce labour (i.e. induction of labour is possible).
- Score of <4– suggests that labour is unlikely to progress naturally and prostaglandin tablet/gel/pessary will be required
Failure of a cervix to ripen despite use of prostaglandins may result in the need for a caesarean section.