Uterine Cancer

Diagnosis

Some of the techniques for diagnosing uterine cancer are:

• Physical examination: The gynecologist will perform a physical exam during which she feels the uterus, vagina, ovaries, and rectum to check for any unusual findings. If she suspects the symptoms are related to uterine cancer, a pelvic examination may be advised. During the pelvic examination, the gynecologist inserts two fingers in the vagina and presses the outer part with the remaining fingers to feel the uterus and detect any tissue growth. The oncologist may also determine if the woman has a uterine cancer bleeding pattern.
• Laboratory tests: There is no specific blood test for uterine cancer. However, the cancer specialist may recommend a CA-125 assay. The presence of this protein may indicate cancer in the body.
• Transvaginal ultrasound: The radiologist inserts the transducer into the vagina and uses sound waves to obtain images of the uterus. Transvaginal ultrasound provides detailed information about the texture and thickness of the endometrium.
• Other imaging techniques: The other imaging techniques to diagnose uterine cancer and rule out the presence of other abnormalities include CT and MRI scans.
• Hysteroscopy: It is a technique that involves using a hysteroscope to evaluate the internal tissues of the uterus, including the endometrium. Hysteroscope is a thin, long tube with a light and camera fitted at the end.
• Biopsy: The oncologists may obtain a small sample of the endometrial tissues for laboratory analysis to detect uterine or endometrial cancer. A thin, flexible tube is guided into the uterus through the cervix for sample collection.
• Dilatation and Curettage: It is a surgical procedure that is more complex as compared to normal biopsy for uterine tissue collection. The cancer specialist advises this procedure when enough tissue sample is not obtained through biopsy or when the biopsy results are unclear.