title: Conservative management of young patients with endometrial highly-differentiated adenocarcinoma.
abstract: Endometrial cancer is uncommon in young women. However, almost 5% of patients are younger than 40 years old. Progestins such as medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and megestrol acetate (MA), have been used as a fertility-sparing approach in this group of patients, with different dose regimens of cyclic (14 days every month) or continuous therapy successfully used. According to the present data, the overall response rate was 73% in a median time of 4 months (range 1-15 months). Endometrial biopsy every 3 months was the common approach to evaluate the patient's response during the treatment. The relapse rate was 36% in a median follow-up time of 22 months (range 6-73 months). Overall, 40% of patients who responded to the treatment successfully, conceived. Half of the patients used assisted reproductive technology to achieve an immediate pregnancy. Although, there are no definite recommendations concerning the conservative management of young patients with early stage endometrial cancer, progestin agents may be used in a selected group of patients for fertility-sparing reasons. After childbearing is completed, hysterectomy remains the standard treatment.
authors.affiliation: 4th Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. kalogiannidis@mailbox.gr
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kalogiannidis
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Agorastos
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000367:Age Factors; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy