Carcinoma of the uterus (the uterine endometrium carcinoma)
is the second most common cancer of the female genital tract. It usually occurs
during 50 to 70 years of age. The exact cause of uterine endometrial carcinoma
is not fully understood, but there are certain risk factors, which include
obesity, hypertension, diabetes, polycystic ovaries (with prolonged
anovulation), use of oral contraceptives and extended use of Tamoxifen. The
nulliparous women and the women having late menopause possess higher risk of
the uterine endometrium carcinoma. Positive family history is another major
risk factor. Endometrial hyperplasia is a pre-cancerous stage of uterine
endometrial carcinoma. There are various types of uterine endometrial
carcinoma, which include adenocarcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, papillary
serous carcinoma and clear cell carcinoma. The most common type is
adenocarcinoma.
The uterine endometrial carcinoma usually presents with
postmenopausal bleeding with abdominal or suprapubic pain, weight loss and
vaginal discharge.
Staging of the uterine endometrial carcinoma is done as
follows:
In stage 0 (carcinoma in situ) of the uterine endometrial
carcinoma, there is atypical hyperplasia of the endometrium.
In stage I, the tumour is confined to body of the uterus.
In stage II, the tumour extends to the cervix.
In stage III, the uterine endometrial carcinoma spreads
outside the uterus but remains within the true pelvis.
In stage IV, the uterine endometrium carcinoma extends
beyond the true pelvis and metastasises to distant organs of the body.
Recurrent uterine endometrial carcinoma is the one that
reappears after an apparent recovery in response to the initial treatment.
