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Query: UMLS:C0476089 (endometrial cancer)
 11,379 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A causal link between prolonged estrogen (E) therapy and endometrial cancer is argued for in this report of a case who was treated with large amounts of estrogenic substances almost continuously for an 8-year period. In 1919 a 25-year-old woman was admitted with asthma of 1-year duration. Asthma onset had been very severe, requiring administration of epinephrine hydrochloride every few hours and frequent hospital observation. In 1928, the patient was amenorrheic for 8 months; in 1936, she experienced amenorrhea for 4 months. In 1937 (patient now 45 years old), the relationship between amenorrhea and increased severity of asthma was suspected. At this time, the patient also complained of hot flashes and sweats. Treatment with estrogenic substances was begun in 1937 and continued through 1945. 3 unusual features were noted during therapy: 1) persistence of hot flashes; 2) persistence of high urine titers of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) despite adequate E doses; and 3) absence of bleeding when E was temporarily withdrawn. By 1945, endometrial cancer had been identified by vaginal smear and verified by biopsy. Because of the previous absence of respose of FSH to prolonged E therapy, Es were omitted for 4 weeks, and after this period the vaginal smear showed complete absence of intrinsic estrogenic stimulation, and the urine titer of FSH was high. E given for 10 days caused moderate pituitary inhibition. Determination of 17-keto-steroids made before and after therapy was abnormally low. Except for the state of chronic illness and the continuous administration of asthma medication (chronic alarm reaction?), there is no explanation of carcinoma grade 2.
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PMID:Cancer of endometrium and prolonged estrogen therapy. 1233 35

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA, Depo-Provera) is used for contraception by 8-9 million women in more than 90 countries, including the US, as of January 1993. Pharmacologically active levels of DMPA persist for 3-4 months following injection. A 150 mg dose is used most often for high contraceptive efficacy every 3 months. Norethindrone enanthate (NET-EN, Noristerat) is somewhat less widely used and is not marketed in the US. Injectables act primarily by inhibiting ovulation, lowering the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. Approximately 50% of women using DMPA for 1 year report amenorrhea whose occurrence is less frequent with NET-EN. Menstrual changes are the most frequent causes of discontinuation of injectables. In cases of heavy bleeding it is appropriate to undergo gynecological examination to rule out unrelated conditions, such as vaginitis, cervicitis, or cervical lesions. The use of conjugated estrogen (12.5-2.5 mg daily) for 10-21 days will minimize bleeding. Some women using injectables experience headache, dizziness, bloating of the abdomen or breast, and mood changes. Long-term use of DMPA or NET-EN can often result in 1-3 kg weight gain. The WHO Collaborative Study of Neoplasia and Steroid Contraceptives was launched in 1979 to examine cancer risks with the use of DMPA in Thailand, Mexico, and Kenya. The relative risk of breast cancer was 1.21, which was statistically not significant. In women diagnosed with breast cancer under age 35, short-term exposure to DMPA was associated with a slightly increased breast cancer risk, which, however, was not associated with duration of use. DMPA dramatically lowers the risk of endometrial cancer for at least eight years following discontinuation of its use. DMPA did not alter the risk of cervical cancer. Fertility returns in 70% of former users within 12 months; it is suitable for postpartum and lactating women, and provides other noncontraceptive benefits.
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PMID:Injectable contraception: the USA perspective. 1234 20

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) for symptomatic leiomyomas is a new attractive treatment in patients who don't desire pregnancy and for which conventional therapy has failed. Uterine fibroid embolization can also be considered for patients who desire pregnancy when myomectomy is technically difficult or impossible and in case of recurrence after myomectomy. 90% improvements are commonly reported in abnormal bleeding, pelvic pains, and in bulk-related symptoms. Although numerous pregnancies have been reported after UAE, the fertility rate after UAE remains to be compared to myomectomy. Absolute contra-indications are pregnancy, endometrial carcinoma, gynaecologic infections, adnexal masses, and rapid growth of uterine leiomyomas (considered as a significant sign of sarcoma). Besides procedure related risks of angiography some specific complications are reported: deep pelvic vein thrombosis with exceptional pulmonary embolus, vaginal discharges with sometime transcervical expulsion of fibroid (5%), transient or permanent amenorrhea (4-5%) and extensive necrosis (1-2%) with possible perforation and infection. A hysterectomy is needed to manage this complication in 0.9 to 0.3% of case. The mortality rate of embolisation is evaluated to 1/3.000 against 6/10.000 for the hysterectomy. UAE is proposed as a less invasive alternative to hysterectomy and myomectomy for the treatment of symptomatic leiomyomas. This technique allows reducing the hospital stay, the convalescence period, the morbidity and the mortality rate compared to conventional surgical treatment.
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PMID:[Embolization of uterine fibroids]. 1247 25

Tamoxifen has both agonistic and antagonistic effects on the female genital tract, depending on the ambient oestradiol concentration and the menopausal status of the patient. In postmenopausal women tamoxifen has an oestrogen agonistic effect on the vaginal epithelium, the uterine myometrium and the endometrium. It may induce benign cystic hyperplasia of the endometrial stroma and cause an increase in poly formation. The risk of endometrial cancer increases 2-3-fold after an exposure of up to 5 years. In asymptomatic tamoxifen users, gynaecological surveillance is not recommended. However, if there is postmenopausal bleeding, then transvaginal ultrasonography and histology of the endometrium are indicated. Tamoxifen can aggravate hot flushes and have a negative effect on sexual function. In premenopausal women, tamoxifen may induce ovarian cysts resulting in high serum-oestradiol levels. Oligomenorrhoea and amenorrhoea will occur in half of the patients. Tamoxifen has an antagonistic effect on the endometrium in premenopausal women and is associated with hot flushes and impaired sexual functioning. Teratogenic effects on the foetus have been described. Despite its gynaecological side effects, the benefits of tamoxifen in breast-cancer treatment outweigh the risks. Patients need to be informed about these side effects. Irregular or postmenopausal blood loss must always be reported to the treating physician.
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PMID:[The effects of tamoxifen on the female genital tract]. 1466 36

PCOS is a metabolic syndrome that exists throughout the world with much clinical heterogeneity. PCOS is now appreciated as encompassing two interrelated metabolic phenomena--insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism. Patients present with oligo-amenorrhea and clinical hyperandrogenism, and the diagnosis is based on clinical grounds with few laboratory tests necessary. Because patients are at higher than normal risk for diabetes, glucose intolerance, and hyperlipidemia, and perhaps at higher risk for coronary heart disease, newly diagnosed patients with PCOS should be evaluated for glucose intolerance and hyperlipidemia. The cornerstone of therapy today includes weight management, and further therapeutic intervention is focused on reproductive and cardiovascular health and treatment of insulin resistance. Clinical case continued The 17-year-old mentioned in the beginning of this article probably does have PCOS. She fits the clinical criteria: oligo-ovulation and hyper-androgenism (the acne and hirsutism). In addition, she is obese, which is also associated with PCOS. Her TSH and prolactin were normal, and as her presentation was not suggestive of an adrenal tumor or congenital adrenal hyperplasia (she had mild hirsutism, and those diagnoses are associated with more severe hyperandrogenism), no further laboratory evaluation was deemed necessary. Once the diagnosis was made, she was screened for lipid abnormalities and for glucose intolerance. Her LDL was 150, HDL 35; oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was normal. A pregnancy test was negative, and she was started on OCPs. Devoting herself to exercise and dietary change, she lost 10 pounds in her first 3 months after diagnosis. Her hirsutism and acne have improved with the OCPs and weight loss, and her menses are regular. She has elected to defer oral insulin sensitizers until her weight loss has stabilized. Findings PCOS is common in reproductive-aged women. Diagnosis is clinical and is supported by lab findings; there is significant clinical heterogeneity. Insulin resistance is likely central to the pathophysiology along with androgen excess. Health implications include infertility, diabetes, endometrial cancer, hyperlipidemia, and possibly coronary heart disease. Treatment is evolving and includes weight loss, OCPs, and insulin sensitizers.
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PMID:Polycystic ovary syndrome: a review for primary providers. 1502 92

The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), then called the Stein-Leventhal syndrome, was first described in 1935. Originally, diagnosis required pathognomonic ovarian findings and the clinical triad of hirsutism, amenorrhea, and obesity. During fertility years, women with PCOS are often seen for immediate concerns such as infertility, menstrual irregularity, and symptoms of androgen excess. During the past two decades, however, such patients have been observed to have increased risk of cardiovascular disease, dyslipidaemia, hypertension and diabetes and increased risk for endometrial cancer. The management of polycystic ovary syndrome is now complex and includes life style modifications, dietary-induced weight loss, oral contraceptives, clomiphene citrate, gonadotropins, antiandrogens and insulin-sensitising agents. These observations have led to a unique clinical perspective about PCOS--one that recognizes the need to address the immediate issues of irregular bleeding, hirsutism, and infertility, but also emphasizes the long-term goals of preventing diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
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PMID:[Long-term health consequences of polycystic ovaries syndrome: metabolic, cardiovascular and oncological aspects]. 1808 38

The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the usefulness of transvaginal sonography for the detection of endometrial disease in postmenopausal women with bleeding. This study involved 275 postmenopausal women aged 47-81 years (median 62). None of them were on hormone replacement therapy and all had had amenorrhea for more than one year. Concerning the age of the study patients, we confirm that endometrial cancer occurs at any age, but more commonly in ages above 58 years. Transvaginal sonography was performed in all women. About 89.2% of malignant diseases were discovered in the study women whose endometrial thickness was above 4 mm, but we also found endometrial cancer in 10.2% of the cases in women whose endometrial thickness was below 4 mm. In postmenopausal symptomatic women premalignant or malignant causes of bleeding can not be excluded with just transvaginal ultrasound.
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PMID:TV sonographic assessment in postmenopausal women with bleeding. 1838 68

Menstrual irregularity is a common occurrence during adolescence, especially within the first 2-3 years after menarche. Prolonged amenorrhea, however, is not normal and can be associated with significant medical morbidity, which differs depending on whether the adolescent is estrogen-deficient or estrogen-replete. Estrogen-deficient amenorrhea is associated with reduced bone mineral density and increased fracture risk, while estrogen-replete amenorrhea can lead to dysfunctional uterine bleeding in the short term and predispose to endometrial carcinoma in the long term. In both situations, appropriate intervention can reduce morbidity. Old paradigms of whom to evaluate for amenorrhea have been challenged by recent research that provides a better understanding of the normal menstrual cycle and its variability. Hypothalamic amenorrhea is the most prevalent cause of amenorrhea in the adolescent age group, followed by polycystic ovary syndrome. In anorexia nervosa, exercise-induced amenorrhea, and amenorrhea associated with chronic illness, an energy deficit results in suppression of hypothalamic secretion of GnRH, mediated in part by leptin. Administration of recombinant leptin to women with hypothalamic amenorrhea has been shown to restore LH pulsatility and ovulatory menstrual cycles. The use of recombinant leptin may improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of hypothalamic amenorrhea in adolescents and may also have therapeutic possibilities.
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PMID:The pathophysiology of amenorrhea in the adolescent. 1857 22

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age (5-10% prevalence) and the most common cause of anovulatory infertility. A recent consensus has led to the formulation of unifying diagnostic criteria for PCOS. It is multifactorial and polygenic in nature. Although the ovary is central to the pathogenesis of PCOS, however neuroendocrine, ovarian and metabolic dysfunctions play a significant role in the pathophysiology. Short- and long-term consequences of the syndrome have been the focus of much interest. The association of PCOS with hyperandrogenism, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance is known and some of the putative molecular aspects are established. Menstrual abnormalities (oligo- or amenorrhea), subfertility, obesity and symptoms of androgen excess are often the main reasons for early referral, whereas diabetes, cardiovascular disease and endometrial cancer represent a clinical finding later in life. It is plausible that appropriate specialist medical management improves the wellbeing of women with PCOS.
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PMID:Polycystic ovary syndrome: pathophysiology, molecular aspects and clinical implications. 1907 68

The relationship of infertility, endocrinology and cancer has become clearer in recent years. Polycystic ovaries (PCO) increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Prolonged amenorrhoea, therefore, should be prevented in such cases with the use of cyclical progestogens, in order for regular withdrawal bleeds to be induced and the endometrium protected from long-term unopposed oestrogen stimulation. There is no secure evidence base on which a relationship between PCO and breast cancer can be based. No specific breast screening for women with PCO is, therefore, recommended. Hyperandrogenaemia and hyperinsulinaemia are conditions whose significance in terms of increasing both endometrial and breast cancer risks is increasingly recognised. The exact mechanism with which they influence carcinogenesis is still far from clear. Whether they act in isolation or as expressions of the common background of the metabolic syndrome - in interaction with other components of this syndrome - is still the subject of research.
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PMID:Anovulation with or without PCO, hyperandrogenaemia and hyperinsulinaemia as promoters of endometrial and breast cancer. 1926 56


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