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Endometrial Cancer Symptoms and Diagnosis |
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Symptoms
The most common symptom of endometrial cancer is unexpected vaginal bleeding after menopause. For this reason, many cases of endometrial cancer are found early because post-menopausal women will usually see their doctor if they have vaginal bleeding or other discharge. Be sure to let your physician know if this occurs.
These additional early symptoms might also be noticed:
- Pain when urinating or during sexual intercourse
- Pelvic area pain or a mass
- Unexplained weight loss
Diagnosis
If endometrial cancer is suspected, your doctor will perform a pelvic exam and may perform a Pap test, although the latter, which obtains cells from the cervix, will generally not reveal endometrial cancer. To confirm a diagnosis of endometrial cancer, an endometrial biopsy will be performed, which will allow a pathologist to examine a small sample of your endometrium under a microscope. The sample tissue is obtained through a thin flexible tube inserted into the uterus through the cervix.
Your doctor may also recommend some of the following tests:
- Blood tests
- Chest X-ray
- Transvaginal ultrasound, in which the ultrasound wand is inserted into the vagina. The wand emits and receives sound waves that are translated into images that can be analyzed by a radiologist or your physician. Abnormal thickening of the endometrium may be an indication of endometrial cancer.
- Dilation & Curettage (D&C), an outpatient procedure where the cervix is enlarged (dilated) and tissue is scraped from inside the uterus. This procedure is sometimes used when not enough tissue to confirm a diagnosis was obtained through the biopsy.
- Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) may done when it appears the cancer may have spread around the ureters, the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder. This test uses X-rays with a contrasting dye to show the internal organs. However, a CT scan will often provide the same information.
- Imaging studies such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT) scan, or Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan.
Learn More About Endometrial Cancer
 Request a Consultation with a UCSD Gynecologic Oncology Specialist Using our Online Form
 Call our New Patient Office at (858) 822-6100, or toll-free (866) 773-2703
Gynecologic Cancer Unit
Moores UCSD Cancer Center
3855 Health Sciences Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093
(866) 773-2703 |