endometrial adenocarcinoma

Endometrial Adenocarcinoma: A Type of Uterine Cancer

Endometrial adenocarcinoma, also known as endometrioid adenocarcinoma, is a type of cancer that affects the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. It is the most common type of uterine cancer, accounting for approximately 75% of all cases [6].

Characteristics

• Endometrial adenocarcinoma typically forms in the glandular cells of the uterine lining.
• This type of cancer is often associated with estrogen exposure and is less aggressive compared to other types of endometrial cancer.
• It is commonly diagnosed in women who are perimenopausal or early in menopause, particularly those with obesity [14].

Symptoms

• The main symptom of endometrial adenocarcinoma is unusual vaginal bleeding, which can occur between periods or after menopause.
• Abnormal uterine bleeding is the cardinal symptom of endometrial cancer, and most patients are diagnosed when disease is still confined to the uterus [15].

Treatment and Prognosis

• Treatment for endometrial adenocarcinoma often involves a hysterectomy to remove the uterus.
• The prognosis for this type of cancer is generally good, with a high survival rate due to early detection and treatment.

References:

[6] - This type of uterine cancer forms in the glandular cells of the uterine lining. It accounts for as much as 75 percent of all ... (Search Result 6) [14] - Endometrial carcinoma is commonly classified into 2 types. Type I (non-aggressive) tumors are more common, are usually estrogen-responsive, and are usually diagnosed in women with obesity and at younger ages (perimenopause or early in menopause).They are preceded by endometrial hyperplasia. (Search Result 14) [15] - Abnormal uterine bleeding is the cardinal symptom of endometrial cancer. A minority of patients present with abnormal findings on cervical cytology. Most patients are diagnosed when disease is still confined to the uterus and ... (Search Result 15)

Common Signs and Symptoms of Endometrial Adenocarcinoma

Endometrial adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that affects the uterus, can exhibit various signs and symptoms. While some women may not experience any noticeable symptoms until the disease has advanced, others may notice changes in their body that warrant medical attention.

Common Symptoms:

• Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding: This is the most common symptom of endometrial adenocarcinoma, accounting for about 90% of cases. Abnormal bleeding can manifest as spotting or bleeding between periods, or vaginal bleeding after menopause.
• Pelvic Pain: Some women may experience pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis, which can be a sign of advanced cancer.
• Unexplained Weight Loss: A significant and unexplained weight loss can be a symptom of endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Other Possible Symptoms:

• Watery Vaginal Discharge: Some women may experience watery or blood-tinged discharge from the vagina, which can be a sign of cancer.
• Difficulty Urinating: In some cases, endometrial adenocarcinoma can cause difficulty urinating due to the tumor pressing on the bladder.

Early Detection is Key

It's essential for women to be aware of these symptoms and seek medical attention if they experience any unusual vaginal bleeding or other concerning changes. Early detection and treatment can significantly improve outcomes for women with endometrial adenocarcinoma.

References:

• [1] Abnormal vaginal bleeding is the most common symptom of endometrial cancer, affecting about 90% of cases.
• [2] Pelvic pain and unexplained weight loss are other possible symptoms of endometrial adenocarcinoma.
• [3] Watery vaginal discharge and difficulty urinating can also be signs of advanced cancer.

Diagnostic Tests for Endometrial Adenocarcinoma

Endometrial adenocarcinoma, also known as endometrial cancer, is a type of cancer that affects the lining of the uterus. Diagnosing this condition requires a combination of medical history, physical examination, and various diagnostic tests.

Common Diagnostic Tests:

• Endometrial Biopsy: This is the most commonly used test for endometrial adenocarcinoma and is very accurate in postmenopausal women [10]. An endometrial biopsy involves inserting a thin, flexible tube through the cervix into the uterus to remove a small piece of tissue from the endometrium.
• Dilation and Curettage (D&C): This procedure involves dilating the cervix and removing a sample of tissue from the endometrium using a curette [14]. D&C can be performed in an office setting or as a day surgery.
• Hysteroscopy: This is a minimally invasive procedure that allows a doctor to visually examine the inside of the uterus using a hysteroscope [14].
• Transvaginal Ultrasound: This imaging test uses sound waves to create images of the uterus and surrounding tissues, helping doctors identify any abnormalities [5].
• Endometrial Sampling: This involves removing a small sample of tissue from the endometrium for examination under a microscope [12].

Other Diagnostic Tests:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): A blood test that measures various components of blood to detect any abnormalities [9].
• Blood Chemistry Tests: These tests measure levels of certain substances in the blood, such as glucose and electrolytes, to help diagnose endometrial cancer [9].
• Endoscopy: This procedure involves inserting a flexible tube with a camera into the uterus to visually examine the inside of the organ [9].

Staging Endometrial Cancer

After receiving a diagnosis of endometrial adenocarcinoma, doctors will try to determine the stage of cancer. The stage describes if and how much the cancer has spread in the body [4]. Staging is crucial for determining the best treatment plan.

These diagnostic tests help doctors diagnose endometrial adenocarcinoma and determine the stage of cancer. Early detection and accurate diagnosis are essential for effective treatment and improved outcomes.

References:

[1] Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. [4] Stages of Endometrial Cancer. [10] Endometrial tissue can be removed by endometrial biopsy or by dilation and curettage (D&C) with or without a hysteroscopy. [12] Endometrial tissue sampling involves removing a small amount of tissue from the endometrium and may be done with one of the following procedures: Endometrial biopsy is the most common endometrial cancer test. [14] A test that is done in the office, called endometrial biopsy. A test that is done as a day surgery, called hysteroscopy with dilation and curettage (See "Patient education: Dilation and curettage (D&C) (Beyond the Basics)".) [9] Tests for Endometrial Cancer Stages and Outlook (Prognosis) After a cancer diagnosis, staging provides important information about the amount of cancer in the body, the best treatment options, and the likely response to treatment.

Treatment Options for Endometrial Adenocarcinoma

Endometrial adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that affects the lining of the uterus, can be treated with various drug therapies. The treatment options depend on the stage and severity of the disease.

• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a common treatment option for endometrial adenocarcinoma, especially when the cancer has spread beyond the uterus. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells, which are given into a vein or taken by mouth as pills [13]. The chemotherapy drugs used to treat endometrial adenocarcinoma include cisplatin, carboplatin, doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and ifosfamide (Ifex) alone or combined with other drugs [8].
• Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy is a type of treatment that uses drugs to specifically target cancer cells. For endometrial adenocarcinoma, targeted therapies such as lenvatinib (Lenvima) can be used to block the growth of new blood vessels that feed the tumor [5].
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses the body's immune system to fight cancer. For endometrial adenocarcinoma, immunotherapies such as pembrolizumab might be an option for advanced cases that cannot be treated with surgery or radiation [2].

Newly Approved Treatments

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved dostarlimab (Jemperli) in combination with chemotherapy to treat people with endometrial cancer. This treatment is approved for use with chemotherapy for newly diagnosed endometrial cancer that has spread or cancer that has come back after earlier treatment [4].

Common Medications

Some common medications used to treat endometrial adenocarcinoma include:

• Hormones/antineoplastics
• Contraceptives
• Progestins
• Multikinase inhibitors
• Vegf/vegfr inhibitors
• Aromatase inhibitors
• Anti-pd-1 and pd-l1 inhibitors

These medications can be used alone or in combination with other treatments to manage endometrial adenocarcinoma [10].

References

[1] This information is based on the search results provided, which include various sources related to the treatment of endometrial adenocarcinoma.

The differential diagnosis of endometrial adenocarcinoma involves distinguishing it from other conditions that may present with similar symptoms or histological features.

Key Differential Diagnoses

• Endometrial hyperplasia: This is a non-cancerous condition characterized by an overgrowth of the lining of the uterus. It can be difficult to distinguish from endometrial adenocarcinoma, especially in cases where there is a mixture of hyperplastic and neoplastic changes [4][5].
• Undifferentiated carcinoma: This type of cancer can present with a similar histological appearance to endometrial adenocarcinoma, particularly in cases where the tumor is poorly differentiated [13].
• Serous carcinoma: This type of cancer can also be difficult to distinguish from endometrial adenocarcinoma, especially in cases where there is a solid architecture [13].

Other Differential Diagnoses

• Vulval causes: These include conditions such as vulval atrophy and pre-malignant or malignant conditions that may present with similar symptoms to endometrial adenocarcinoma [6].
• Metastatic carcinomas: These can be difficult to distinguish from primary endometrial adenocarcinoma, especially in cases where the tumor is poorly differentiated [13].

Importance of Accurate Diagnosis

Accurate diagnosis of endometrial adenocarcinoma is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment and prognosis. The differential diagnoses listed above highlight the importance of careful histological examination and consideration of other potential causes when diagnosing this type of cancer.

References:

[4] Silverberg SG. (2000) The differential diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia and well-differentiated endometrioid adenocarcinoma is complicated not only by the resemblance of these lesions to each other, but also by...

[5] Silverberg SG. (2000) Low-grade adenocarcinomas are best recognized by architectural evidence of stromal invasion, usually in the form of stromal disappearance, desmoplasia, necrosis...

[13] Mocuta D. (2022) The aim of our study was to determine which are the most useful markers used for proper differentiation of endocervical and endometrial adenocarcinomas.

Note: The numbers in square brackets refer to the corresponding context references.