Uterine cancer includes cancer of the muscle, called sarcoma and cancer of the inside lining called endometrial cancer. The most common form is endometrial cancer. In fact, it is the most common gynecological malignancy in the United States.

Uterine cancer is a type of tumor that develops in the area of uterus. This cancer kills more than 40,000 people every year in America. This cancer is also known as endometrial cancer. Symptoms of this tumor are very difficult to detect. This tumor usually gets diagnosed in the advanced stages and tends to develop at a rapid rate. If proper preventive steps are taken the occurrence of this tumor can be avoided. Uterine cancer diagnosis includes all the techniques that are conducted to detect the location of the tumor and its widespread throughout the body. Uterine cancer detection done at early stages helps to start the treatment within proper time and thus prevents the spread of the tumor.

Uterine Cancer Diagnosis:-

Uterine cancer detections are done by conducting several tests. These tests include:-

• Endometrial Biopsy
  
• Dilation and Curettage
  
• Positron Emission Tomography
  
• Magnetic Resource Imaging
  
• Blood Tests

Explanation of Uterine cancer diagnosis:-

• Endometrial Biopsy :-
  
  This test is known for giving an accurate diagnosis of this tumor. In this test a small cut is made in the area of uterus. Then a small tube is inserted in the area of uterus and the samples of malignant cells are taken out. Later this sample is examined with the help of several tests and the type of tumor and its widespread throughout the body is detected. This tumor is later removed with the help of surgery.
  
  
• Dilation and Curettage :-
  
  Dilation and Curettage is considered as one of the finest test for diagnosing this tumor. A local anaesthesia is given before conducting this test. Later the cervix area is widened and a small part of the tumor is removed. This part is later examined by conducting several tests. If the tumor is of small type it is removed with the help of surgery and if the size of the tumor is big, Chemotherapy or radiation therapy are performed.
  
  
• Positron Emission Tomography :-
  
  This technique is considered as the latest breakthrough in the diagnosis department. This technique involves the use of radioactive glucose for detecting the tumor. The malignant cells of this tumor tend to consume more glucose than the normal ones. So in this procedure more amount of glucose is injected into the body. The malignant cells near the tumor area try to cosume a large amount of this glucose. Later radioactive waves are passed throughout the body and the spread of these malignant cells throughout the body is detected. This procedure helps to give an accurate diagnosis of the tumor but is generally avoided if the patient is found to be diabetic.
  
  
• Magnetic Resource Imaging :-
  
  This test is considered as the common technique for diagnose the tumor. In this technique highly transmissible radioactive waves are used. These waves travel throughout the area of the location and magnetic substances give a graphical analysis of the area of tumor, tumor type and the widespread of the malignant cells. These graphs are later examined and the type of treatment to be undertaken is decided.
  
  
• Transvaginal Ultrasound :-
  
  This test involves the use of sound waves for the detection of the tumor. This test is considered as the most common test conducted for uterine cancer detection. In this test certain sound waves are releases at the location of the tumor in a typical manner. When these waves travel throughout the location a graphical picture of the tumor gets developed. Later these pictures are examined and the type of tumor is diagnosed.

Uterine cancer diagnosis has to done as soon as the symptoms of this tumor are observed. Early Uterine cancer detection helps to cure the tumor successfully. Consultation of a reputed surgeon is recommended for the diagnosis of this tumor.

Read more onhttp://www.cancer8.com/endometrial-cancer/diagnosis.html

Yes, it is the standard of care to remove the cervix for uterine cancer as it is the lower part of the uterus. It is not a separate organ from the uterus.

Removal of both tubes and ovaries is recommended for comprehensive staging of endometrial cancer for two reasons. The first reason is the concern for microscopic spread of tumor to the tubes or ovaries that would go undetected if the organs were left in place. The second concern is the potential stimulation of microscopic residual cancer cells by the continued estrogen production if the ovaries are retained. These risks are theoretical and prior studies suggest that both are low. One concern, however, is that the risk of a separate ovarian cancer at the time of the endometrial cancer diagnosis (termed a "synchronous ovarian tumor") is higher in younger women and can be as high as 30%. There is a growing literature suggesting the safety of retaining the ovaries in young women with low-grade endometrial cancers with minimal invasion of the uterine muscle, although further studies are needed to confirm this. This is an important finding as the incidence of endometrial cancer is increasing and approximately 10-15% will be diagnosed in premenopausal women.

In the 1980’s, a large study was performed to identify the pathologic findings that truly influenced the risk of recurrence and the overall survival in endometrial cancer. Some easily determined uterine and extra-uterine factors were identified including the cell type, tumor grade, depth of invasion of the uterine muscle (myometrial invasion), metastases to the pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes, and metastases to the fallopian tubes and ovaries. These findings ushered in the era of “surgical staging” of endometrial cancer, which had previously been staged by physical examination alone. Complete surgical staging requires a careful exploration of the abdomen and pelvis, a total hysterectomy, removal of both tubes and ovaries, and selective biopsy of the pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes.

At the time, the only available mode of surgery to accomplish this staging was traditional open surgery (laparotomy). However, in the 1990’s improvements in laparoscopic equipment made it feasible to perform comprehensive staging without the large incision required for a laparotomy. Laparoscopic procedures (sometimes referred to as “keyhole” surgery) allow the surgeon to access the abdomen and pelvis through small incisions (usually 5-10 mm in diameter each). Because the uterus, cervix, tubes and ovaries can be removed through the vagina, there is no need for a larger incision. The first minimally invasive surgery to comprehensively stage endometrial cancer was a laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy with removal of the tubes and ovaries and laparoscopic nodal sampling. Techniques for total laparoscopic hysterectomy and staging quickly followed. Presently, approximately 60% of endometrial cancers in the United States are managed via minimally invasive surgery, many utilizing robotic-assisted laparoscopy. Laparoscopy has been proven superior to laparotomy with regard to postoperative pain and recovery time in a number of clinical scenarios including endometrial cancer staging. The three to four day hospital stay following a laparotomy is typically reduced to one postoperative day for women that undergo minimally invasive staging. More importantly, the typical 6 week home recovery for laparotomy is routinely shortened to approximately 2 weeks for laparoscopy. Many studies have proven the equivalence of laparotomy and laparoscopy with regard to the risk of recurrence and survival in patients with endometrial cancer.

The role of routine lymph node sampling in endometrial cancer care remains hotly debated. As I mentioned previously, the determinants of recurrence and survival in endometrial cancer include the tumor grade and depth of invasion of the uterine muscle (myometrium). These factors also predict the risk of spread to the pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes. For example, a woman with a grade I endometrial cancer with invasion of only the inner 1/3 of the myometrium carries a 3% risk of a pelvic node metastases. Comparatively, a woman with a grade 3 tumor and myometrial invasion to the outer third carries a 30% risk of pelvic node metastases. These risks, however, are base on postoperative pathology findings and not an intra-operative assessment of tumor grade and myometrial invasion. As in any medical decision, the risk of missing a lymph node metastasis must be weighed against the risks of lymph node sampling, which include bleeding and postoperative lymphedema (swelling of the lower extremities).

There are three schools of thought with regard to the role of lymph node sampling in endometrial cancer. Some surgeons perform routine sampling of the pelvic and paraaortic lymph nodes for all patients, others biopsy only suspicious lymph nodes found at surgery or identified on preoperative imaging studies, while the remaining surgeons utilize some form of pre and intra-operative risk assessment to determine which patients are at risk for nodal spread and should undergo the procedure. Presently, I perform some level of lymph node sampling on all patients that are safe surgical candidates because I believe that lymph node data is useful for determining the need for postoperative therapy and I question the ability to accurately predict the risk of nodal spread pre or intra-operatively. The available literature has not brought clarity to this debate with some studies suggesting a benefit to lymph node sampling and others showing no benefit.

When endometrial cancer is suspected, an office endometrial biopsy should be performed. You may have some cramping but it’s reasonable. I’ve had the procedure done and immediately returned to work that day.

Women with early endometrial cancer (ie, confined to the uterus) typically will not require further treatment. However, we will consider chemotherapy (and/or radiation therapy) if there are factors that we know can raise the risk of a recurrence. These include older age, nodal involvement, how deeply invasive the tumor was within the muscle layer of the uterus, and whether or not there was cancer involving the lymph or blood vessels (so called lymphovascular invasion). In addition, we tend to give chemotherapy for high-risk tumors, notably uterine serous cancers. These cancers tend to behave agressively, even when earlier diagnosed.