Endometrial cancer
Endometrial cancer involves cancerous growth of the endometrium (lining of the uterus). It mainly occurs after menopause, and presents with vaginal bleeding. A hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) is generally performed.
It is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States, with over 35,000 women being diagnosed each year in the U.S. Because of effective screening, it is only the third most common cause of gynecologic cancer deaths (behind ovarian and cervical cancer).
The same risk factors for endometrial cancer predisposes women to endometrial hyperplasia, which is a precursor lesion for endometrial cancer. An atypical complex hyperplasia carries a 30% risk of developing endometrial cancer while a typical simple hyperplasia only carries a 2-3% risk.
Endometrial cancer is often referred to as uterine cancer, however the uterus may harbor other malignacies, including cervical cancer, sarcoma, and trophoblastic disease.