[Precancerous conditions and cancer of the endometrium]

In recent years the incidence in endometrial cancer is rising. The relation of cervical to endometrial cancer has shifted to almost 1:1. The peak of age distribution is between 50 and 60 years of age. Accompanying diseases are obesity, diabetes and hypertension. The endometrial cancer has its precancerous stages. The pertinent estrogenic stimulus is probably significant for the development of precancerous lesions: adenomatous hyperplasia of the endometrium without atypias is known as an optional, that with atypia as an obligatory precancerous lesion. The range of morphologic variation extends from mature endometrial adenocarcinoma with favorable prognosis to immature neoplasias with unfavorable outcome. Besides various other parameters of neoplastic disease the depths of infiltration into the myometrium is known to be significant. The leading sign of endometrial cancer is uterine bleeding. The histological diagnosis is established by the examination of the tissue produced by curettage from the cervical canal and from the uterine cavity. A true early diagnosis--in comparison to the early detection of cervical cancer--does still not exist for endometrial cancer. Exfoliative cytology from the uterine cavity or ultrasonography does still not allow the final and definite diagnosis. Among the therapeutic alternatives abdominal hysterectomy in combination with bilateral adnexectomy plays the most important role. Depending from more specific morphologic criteria of a given case additional pelvic and paraaortic lymphnode-dissection is advised. Surgical therapy in general accounts for a 10 to 20 percent better survival. In patients who cannot surgically be treated because of the local extension of the tumor or due to a general high risk situation the primary therapy is pelvic irradiation both by packing and percutaneously. Disseminated neoplasms, adenocarcinomas in particular, respond well to large dosages of progestins, whereas combinations of cytostatics have failed to show favorable results, perhaps with the exception of those containing adriamycin. All endometrial cancer patients need special posttreatment care, because early recurrences still have a certain chance of survival when recognized and appropriately treated.