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Endometrial cancer - Overview

Alternative Names

Endometrial/uterine adenocarcinoma; Uterine cancer; Adenocarcinoma of the endometrium/uterus; Cancer - uterine; Cancer - endometrial; Uterine corpus cancer

Definition of Endometrial cancer:

Endometrial cancer is cancer that starts in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus (womb).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Endometrial cancer is the most common type of uterine cancer. Although the exact cause of endometrial cancer is unknown, increased levels of estrogen appear to play a role. Estrogen helps stimulate the buildup of the lining of the uterus. Studies have shown that high levels of estrogen in animals result in excessive endometrial growth and cancer.

Most cases of endometrial cancer occur between the ages of 60 and 70 years, but a few cases may occur before age 40.

The following increase your risk of endometrial cancer:

Diabetes
Estrogen replacement therapy without the use of progesterone
History of endometrial polyps or other benign growths of the uterine lining
Infertility (inability to become pregnant)
Tamoxifen, a drug for breast cancer treatment
Never being pregnant
Obesity
Starting menstruation at an early age (before age 12)
Starting menopause after age 50

Associated conditions include the following:

Pelvic laparoscopy

Female reproductive anatomy

Reviewed last on: 5/2/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine; Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2008. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society; 2008.

Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKena WG. Clinical Oncology. 3rd ed. Orlando, Fl: Churchill Livingstone; 2004:2273-2304.

Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007.

Hernandez E, American College of Obstericians and Gynecologists. ACOG practice bulletin number 65: management of endometrial cancer. Obstet Gynecol. 2006;107(4):952.

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