How is uterine cancer diagnosed?

Gyneacologist: a doctor specialised to diagnose and treat dieseases of the female reproductive system

Gyneacologic oncologist: a doctor who is a specialist in treating cancer of the female reproductive system.

Oncologist: cancer specialist.

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If you have any of the symptoms mentioned in the previous post (i.e. abnormal vaginal bleeding), you should consult your doctor who will perform a general physical exam and a pelvic exam. Your doctor may also ask you about your symptoms, risk factors and family medical history. When your doctor sucpects of endometrial cancer, you will most likely be referred to a gyneacologist or a gyneacologic oncologist.

Some of the test that your doctor might perform for diagnosis:

Pap Test (Pap Smear)
A pap test is usually used to detect cervical cancer. It involves taking sample of cells from the cervix. It is usually not useful in detecting endometrial cancer because endometrial cancer begins inside your uterus and cells from inside the uterus do not show up in a pap test.

Endometrial Biopsy
This procudure is generally regarded as the first step in diagnosing endometrial cancer. The doctor will insert a narrow tube into the uterus through the vagina and suction out tissues from a few areas of the uterus lining. The tissue extracted will be examined under the microscope in the laboratory. This procudure usually will not take more than a few minutes. It can diagnose more than 90% of endometrial cancer.

Dilation and Currettage (D and C)
If the endometrial biopsy does not provide enough tissue, or if it suggest cancer, you'll likely be advised to undergo a D and C. This is an outpatient procudure and require general anesthesia (concious sedation). It will normally take an hour or so. During this procedure, the servix is dilated (widening) and an instrument called curette is inserted into the uterus through the vagina to try to get tissue samples to be examined under a microscope for cancer cells. You will be advised to stay in the hospital for a few hours or even overnight to recover. Few women will experience any discomfort after this procedure.

Transvaginal Ultrasound
Some patients with medical condition like diabetes, severe high blood pressure, obesity, etc. may not tolerate anesthesia and therefore will be advised for tranvaginal ultrasound to diagnose endometrial cancer.This test show how thick the lining of the uterus is. Ther procedure involve inserting an ultrasound probe into the vagina. If the lining of the uterus is 5mm or less, uterine cancer is unlikely.This also allows the doctor to see the abnormalities of the uterine lining more clearly.

If endometrial cancer is found, you'll need more test to determine whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body (called staging: determine the extent of the cancer). These tests may include chest x-ray, a computerized tomography scan (CT scan)and a blood test.