Clinicopathologic relevance of asymptomatic endometrial carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether screening asymptomatic women is significant for early detection of endometrial carcinoma.


METHODS
We compared the clinicopathologic findings and prognoses of 21 asymptomatic patients with 427 symptomatic patients with endometrial carcinoma.


RESULTS
The incidence of asymptomatic endometrial carcinoma was 4.7%. Nineteen of 21 asymptomatic patients with endometrial carcinoma were found by cytologic screening for endometrial cancer. There was a statistical difference in the histopathology and depth of myometrial invasion between the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups. However, no statistical differences were found in tumor grade, lymph node metastasis, adnexal metastasis, cervical invasion, peritoneal cytology, surgical stage and patient age. Univariate analysis showed that the presence or absence of symptoms was not related to survival.


CONCLUSIONS
The detection of asymptomatic endometrial carcinoma is not related to a reduced mortality rate. Screening asymptomatic women for endometrial carcinoma is not recommended.
Jobo
Toshiko
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Sagamihara-shi, Kanagawa-ken 228-8555, Japan.
Arai
Tsutomu
T
Sato
Rinya
R
Kuramoto
Hiroyuki
H
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000706:statistics & numerical data