title: Screening for uterine tumours.
abstract: The most prevalent uterine tumours are leiomyomas, which are benign and have a prevalence of about 50% at menopause. The incidence of endometrial cancer and uterine sarcomas is about 25 per 100,000 and 0.7 per 100,000, respectively. Reported risk factors for endometrial cancer are advanced age, unopposed oestrogen stimulation, late menopause, obesity, diabetes mellitus, nulliparity, feminising ovarian tumours, polycystic ovarian syndrome, tamoxifen and belonging to a hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer family. Unopposed oestrogen stimulation and tamoxifen have also been confirmed to induce uterine sarcomas. Cervical cytology, endometrial sampling and ultrasound have been proposed in the early diagnosis of endometrial cancer. No pathognomonic ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography features are able to differentiate between a leiomyoma and a uterine sarcoma, and reliable serum markers for sarcomas are lacking. To date, mass screening for uterine malignancies is not feasible or effective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van den Bosch
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coosemans
authors.forename: Memli
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morina
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Timmerman
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amant
mesh_terms: D000075202:Contraindications; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens