Ovarian Cancer Endometrioid Carcinoma

What is an Ovarian What characterizes Endometrioid Tumor? Ovarian Endometrioid Endometrioid tumors make up Carcinoma? about 2 to 4 percent of all ovar- Ovarian cancer often does not Definition of ian tumors and most of them present clear physical symptoms. Terms (about 80 percent) are malignant, Some signs of ovarian cancer representing 10 to 20 percent of include persistent (more than two Endometrial: all ovarian carcinomas. In some weeks) pelvic or abdominal pain Excessive growth of cases, endometrioid carcinomas of or discomfort; bloatedness, gas, cells in the endome- the ovary appear synchronously nausea and indigestion; vaginal trium, the tissue that with an endometrial carcinoma bleeding; frequent or urgent uri- lines the uterus. (epithelial cancer of the uterus) nation with and/or endometriosis (presence of no infection; Epithelial: Relating endometrial tissue outside unexplained to the epithelium, the uterus). weight gain tissue that lines the Ovarian Endometrioid Carcino- or loss; fa- internal surfaces of mas are the second most common tigue; and body cavities or ex- ternal body surfaces type of epithelial ovarian can- changes in of some organs, cer, which is the most common bowel habits. such as the ovary. ovarian cancer. According to the If you have American Cancer Society, ovar- a known his- ian cancer accounts for 6 percent tory of endo- Ovarian Endometri- Malignant: Cancer- of all cancers among women. The metriosis involving the ovary and oid Carcinoma often ous and capable of fi ve-year survival rate for women there is a change in the intensity does not present spreading. with advanced ovarian cancer is or type of symptoms that you are clear symptoms. 15 to 20 percent. If the disease is experiencing, let your Pathologist: found at an early stage (with no doctor know. A physician who spread outside the ovary), survival examines tissues and approaches 90 percent. How is Ovarian Endome- fl uids to diagnose trioid Car- disease in order to Who is most likely to have cinoma di- assist in making Ovarian Endometrioid agnosed? treatment decisions. Carcinoma? Women Endometrioid carcinoma occurs should have primarily in women who are a comprehen- between 50 and 70 years of age. sive family Women with a personal or family medical his- history of colon or endometrial tory taken by cancer (Lynch Syndrome 2 or he- a physician reditary non-polyposis colon can- knowledge- cer) have a higher risk of develop- able about Normal ovarian ing endometrioid carcinomas of the risks of ovarian cancer. In the ovary. Risk factors include addition, a rectovaginal exami- age; use of high-dose estrogen for nation and pelvic examination, Copyright © 2006 College of American long periods without progester- conducted by your primary care Pathologists. For use and one; or uninterrupted ovulation physician, may detect some ab- reproduction by patients due to infertility, no pregnancies normalities. If any abnormalities and CAP members only. or no use of birth control. are found, your primary care phy- First edition, Dec. 2006. sician may prescribe a transvagi- nal ultrasound or a tumor marker blood test called the CA-125. Higher than normal levels of CA- How do doctors determine 125 can point to ovarian cancer, what surgery or treatment although other non-cancer related will be necessary? conditions may also be associated Once ovarian cancer is suspected with an elevation of the CA-125. or confi rmed, your primary care In cases of abdominal swelling, physician or specialist will refer your primary care physician may you to a surgeon. The initial sur- What kinds of withdraw fl uid from your belly to gery will remove as much of the questions should look for cancer cells. This may be suspicious tissue as possible. In I ask my doctors? done through different procedures clearing cancerous tissue from including culdocentesis (where the abdominal cavity, the surgeon Ask any question It’s important fl uid is removed from the space may remove not only the ovary you want. There are surrounding the ovaries) or para- involved but also the uterus, no questions you to learn as should be reluctant centesis (where fl uid is removed the other ovary, fallopian tubes, to ask. Here are a from the abdominal cavity). CT omentum, lymph nodes and other much as you few to consider: (computed tomography) or MRI tissues to assess if the cancer may can about (magnetic resonance imaging) have spread; sometimes, cancer • Can you please your treatment scans also may be used to allow deposits are small and must be tell me about the physicians to view inside the removed to be found. type of cancer I options and body and specifi cally in the ab- Following the surgery, your have and what dominal region where the ovaries primary care physician or special- treatment options to make the are found. ist will most likely recommend are available. decision that’s If you have a family history chemotherapy, usually intra- of ovarian cancer, you may have peritoneal chemotherapy (IP) • What stage is the right for you. a higher genetic risk of having (directed inside the abdominal cancer? ovarian cancer, and your primary cavity). According to a study care physician or specialist may published by the New England • What are the Clinical trials of recommend that you take advan- Journal of Medicine, IP chemo- chances to be new treatments may tage of other new blood marker therapy resulted in patients having cured? be found at www. tests in the developmental stages. a median survival time 16 months cancer.gov/clinical- longer, especially when adminis- • What treatment trials. These treat- What does the pathologist tered with certain chemotherapy options do you ments are highly look for? drugs such as cisplastin and pacli- recommend? Why do experimental in The pathologist studies the taxel, than women who received you believe these are nature but may be a specimen(s) removed during intravenous (IV) chemotherapy. the best treatments? potential option for surgery. By examining these tis- Studies show that cisplastin and • What are the pros advanced cancers. sues, the pathologist will assess paclitaxel remain active longer in and cons of these whether or not the tumor is cancer the abdominal cavity than other treatment options? For more informa- and, if so, what kind of cancer it chemotherapeutic agents. tion, go to: www. is and whether or not it has spread Radiation therapy (using • What are the side cancer.gov outside the ovary. After reviewing pinpointed high-energy beams) effects? (National Cancer all the specimens, your patholo- is sometimes used with chemo- Institute) or www. gist will assign a pathologic stage therapy to treat ovarian cancer. • Can you provide oncologychannel to your ovarian cancer, which will Radiation therapy can be used to me with information .com. Type the key- impact treatment recommenda- shrink tumors before surgery or to about the physicians words Ovarian En- tions made by your doctor. Stage destroy cancer cells that remain and others on the dometrioid Tumors I Ovarian Endometrioid Carcino- after surgery. This treatment is medical team? or Ovarian Cancer mas are confi ned to one or both also used to relieve the symptoms into the search box. ovaries, and stage 4 carcinomas of advanced cancer. have spread far away from the Patients who experience relapse ovary. If a carcinoma is stage 2 or who have carcinomas that are or 3, it is between these two ex- resistant to treatment may benefi t tremes. from additional surgical proce- dures, secondary chemotherapy agents, biological therapies or other types of treatments.