Endometrial cancer refers to the several types of malignancy which originate from the endometrium. The endometrium is the lining of the uterus. Endometrioid adenocarcinoma is the most common subtype of cancer of the endometrium and it normally occurs within a few decades of menopause. This subtype is normally associated with excessive estrogen exposure and it leads to vaginal bleeding. Endometrial carcinoma is the third most common cause of gynecologic cancer deaths.

Signs and symptoms of this type of cancer include abnormal uterine bleeding and abnormal menstrual periods. Bleeding between normal periods and anemia as a result of chronic loss of blood are other symptoms of endometrial cancer. Other signs include lower abdominal pain or pelvic cramping and thin white or clear vaginal discharge in postmenopausal women.

Risk factors for cancer of the endometrium include high levels of estrogen, obesity, hypertension and nilliparity, that is, never having carried a pregnancy. Other risk factors include infertility, early onset of menstruation and late menopause. Endometrial polyps and other benign growths of the uterine are other factors that increase the risk of developing the disease. Diagnosis of this type of cancer can be through a pap smear or endometrial curettage. Other ways of diagnosing the disease are hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy.

The primary treatment for endometrial cancer is surgery. Surgical treatment involves cytologic sampling of the peritoneal fluid, abdominal exploration, palpation and biopsy of suspicious lymph nodes. It also involves abdominal hysterectomy and removal of both ovaries. Removal of pelvic and Para-aortic lymph nodes is sometimes done in cases where the tumors that have high risk features. Endometrial cancer develops in both premenopausal as well as postmenopausal women and the most commonly affected age group is between 50 to 59 years.


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