How is endometrial cancer detected?

Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on October 22, 2024
00:00
00:00

When women experience irregular vaginal bleeding, or vaginal bleeding reoccurs after menopause, and uterine endometrial cancer is suspected, the first step is to conduct a routine gynecological examination to identify whether the bleeding originates from the uterine cavity or the cervix. Additionally, an ultrasound examination can be conducted to observe the condition inside the uterine cavity, the thickness of the endometrium, whether the thickness is uniform, and whether there are any abnormal growths, to understand whether the woman might have uterine endometrial cancer. However, these methods usually cannot provide a diagnosis and only serve to assess or suggest the possibility of endometrial cancer. For a definitive diagnosis, a hysteroscopy or diagnostic curettage can be performed, and the results of the pathological examination can confirm the diagnosis.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
58sec home-news-image

Late-stage symptoms of endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer is a common malignant tumor in the female reproductive system. In advanced stages, patients often experience irregular vaginal bleeding. In addition, there may be bloody discharge from the vagina. If an infection is present or there are signs of necrosis due to the cancer, there may also be purulent discharge or other foul odors. Additionally, there are more apparent symptoms such as pain, abdominal masses, and in late stages, the cancer may invade blood vessels, causing swelling in the lower limbs, or spread to nearby organs, such as the ureters, leading to renal damage. Over time, this can also lead to cachexia, fever, and other signs of systemic failure.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Xiao Ming
Obstetrics and Gynecology
57sec home-news-image

How is endometrial cancer diagnosed?

If it concerns endometrial cancer, postmenopausal vaginal bleeding and menstrual disorders during the menopausal transition should prompt an exclusion of endometrial cancer. The most common and valuable method for diagnosing endometrial cancer is through pathological examination results, especially via fractional curettage. The advantage of fractional curettage is that it can differentiate between endometrial cancer and cervical adenocarcinoma, and it can clarify whether the cervical canal is involved, providing a basis for formulating treatment plans. In addition, endometrial cancer can also be assessed using a B-mode ultrasound, but this is only used to provide reference values for clinical diagnosis and management. Another method is hysteroscopy, which allows direct observation of the uterine cavity and cervical canal for any lesions, and tissue can also be collected for biopsy, which is also a very good method.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Jian Wei
Obstetrics and Gynecology
55sec home-news-image

How to perform surgery for endometrial cancer

Surgical treatment for endometrial cancer needs to be determined based on the specific stage and type of the cancer, as well as the size of the lesions. If the lesions are small and the cancer is in an early stage, a complete hysterectomy including the removal of both fallopian tubes and ovaries can be performed. Intraoperative pathology assessment of the endometrium is also necessary to determine the specific pathological type. If it is a special type of endometrial cancer, it is also necessary to clear the pelvic lymph nodes. If the endometrial cancer is at a later stage and the lesions are larger, then in addition to the removal of the uterus and both fallopian tubes and ovaries, it is also necessary to clear the lymph nodes around the abdominal aorta in the pelvis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
52sec home-news-image

How many times for endometrial cancer chemotherapy?

Post-surgical treatment for endometrial cancer often requires adjunct therapies, commonly including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The frequency of chemotherapy primarily depends on whether the pathological results of the endometrial cancer reveal high-risk factors. If no high-risk factors are present, regular observation and follow-ups are generally advised. However, if high-risk factors are present, such as lymph node metastasis or local infiltration, this condition requires 4-6 cycles of chemotherapy after surgery, supplemented by radiotherapy. Thus, for endometrial cancer, if high-risk factors exist, chemotherapy is needed for 4-6 cycles; if no high-risk factors are present, chemotherapy is generally unnecessary, and regular follow-ups suffice.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
45sec home-news-image

Endometrial cancer leukorrhea symptoms

The main manifestation of endometrial discharge is an increase in the amount of discharge, which can be watery or bloody. Sometimes, it can also appear as pus-blood-like discharge. Another main symptom of endometrial cancer is irregular vaginal bleeding. During an ultrasound, uneven echoes can be seen within the uterine cavity. The patient may also experience pain in the lower abdomen and increased menstrual flow. Therefore, if there are abnormalities in menstruation or unusual vaginal discharge, it is necessary to promptly go to the hospital for an ultrasound and gynecological examinations, and receive treatment based on the results of these tests.