Adenocarcinoma of the endometrium after endometrial ablation.
BACKGROUND
Endometrial ablation is a relatively new technique for treating abnormal uterine bleeding not associated with malignancy. Long-term outcome data after endometrial ablation are limited, and incidence of endometrial adenocarcinoma after ablation is unknown.


METHODS
A 55-year-old black woman who had endometrial ablation for abnormal uterine bleeding after excluding uterine cancer presented 5 years later with similar symptoms and a histologic diagnosis of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the uterus. She refused surgery and had radiation treatment for probable stage I endometrial adenocarcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
It is unlikely in this high-risk patient that the endometrial ablation masked an undetected malignancy or delayed the diagnosis. Given the interval, the adenocarcinoma might have occurred de novo.
Brooks-Carter
G N
GN
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York, New York 10019, USA. gizellewells@mciworld.com
Killackey
M A
MA
Neuwirth
R S
RS
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*