How to diagnose endometrial cancer? Uterine cancer can be diagnosed by vaginal B-ultrasound

How to effectively diagnose endometrial cancer? Endometrial cancer is more common in women aged 50 to 60. It is a common cancer in the female reproductive system and ranks fourth among the most common cancers in women. Common methods for the examination and diagnosis of endometrial cancer include pathological histology, cytology, vaginal B-ultrasound, CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Below, we will mainly learn about the common imaging examinations of endometrial cancer.

Imaging tests for endometrial cancer

1. Vaginal B-ultrasound examination: Vaginal B-ultrasound examination is used before surgery to predict the depth of tumor infiltration into the muscular layer. It has been reported that the vaginal ultrasound display rate is 100% for patients with muscular layer infiltration ≥33%. The preoperative ultrasound examination to determine whether there is deep muscular layer infiltration is consistent with the postoperative pathological diagnosis rate of 92%.

2. MRI and CT: Mainly used to observe uterine cavity and cervical lesions, especially the depth of myometrial infiltration and lymph node metastasis. Because MRI has a strong resolution for soft tissue, it is superior to CT examination in the diagnosis of uterine lesions.

3. Lymph node angiography: used to detect lymph node metastasis before surgery. The lymph node metastasis of endometrial cancer is increasingly valued and recognized. According to its lymphatic drainage and metastasis pathways, cancer cells can directly reach the presacral and para-aortic lymph nodes, or metastasize to the inguinal lymph nodes through the round ligament. If the tumor has invaded the cervical canal, its metastasis pathway is the same as that of primary cervical cancer. After invading the lymph nodes, it spreads to the iliac lymph nodes.

4. Hysteroscopy: In the past 20 years, hysteroscopy has been widely used and is particularly helpful for the diagnosis of endometrial lesions. Endometrial cancer can be polypoid, nodular, papillary, ulcerative and diffuse under the microscope. Biopsy of suspicious areas under the microscope can confirm the diagnosis and avoid the omission of conventional curettage.

How to prevent endometrial cancer?

At present, the cause of endometrial cancer is unclear, but it is often seen in the following high-risk factors: ① long-term menstrual disorders; ② infertility: especially infertility caused by ovarian anovulation; ③ physical factors: such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes; ④ exogenous estrogen: in the absence of progesterone antagonism, or insufficient progesterone content, long-term estrogen replacement therapy and late menopause can lead to endometrial hyperplasia and even cancer; ⑤ genetic factors: about 20% of endometrial cancer patients have a family history.

Although the cause of endometrial cancer is unknown and there is currently no good prevention strategy, regular annual physical examinations should be encouraged.