Carcinoma of Uterus

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.