Endometrial cancer

Disease	Injury	Nutrition	Poison

Special Topic	Surgery	Symptoms	Test

Pelvic laparoscopy

Female reproductive anatomy

Endometrial cancer

Alternative Names:

Endometrial/uterine adenocarcinoma; Uterine cancer; Adenocarcinoma of the endometrium/uterus; Cancer - uterine; Cancer - endometrial

Symptoms:

abnormal uterine bleeding, abnormal menstrual periods
- bleeding between normal periods in premenopausal women
- vaginal bleeding and/or spotting in postmenopausal women
in women older than 40: extremely long, heavy, or frequent episodes of bleeding (may indicate premalignant changes)
lower abdominal pain or pelvic cramping
thin white or clear vaginal discharge in postmenopausal women

Signs and tests:

A pelvic examination is frequently normal, especially in the early stages of disease. Changes in the size, shape or consistency of the uterus and/or its surrounding, supporting structures may exist when the disease is more advanced.

A Pap smear may be either normal or show abnormal cellular changes.
Endometrial aspiration or biopsy may assist the diagnosis.
A dilation and curettage (D and C) procedure is usually necessary for diagnosing and evaluating the cancer.

Stages of endometrial cancer:

The cancer is confined to the uterine body.
The cancer involves the uterine body and the cervix, but does not extend any further.
The cancer extends outside of the uterus but not beyond the true pelvis (gynecological organs). Cancer may involve the lymph nodes in the pelvis or near the aorta (the major artery in the abdomen).
The cancer has either spread to the inner surface of the bowel or bladder, or has extended beyond the true pelvis and spread into the abdomen or to distant organs.

Review Date: 8/4/2002
Reviewed By: Kevin Knopf, M.D., M.P.H., Hematologist/Oncologist and Director of Clinical Research, Annapolis Oncology/Hematology Center, Annapolis, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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