clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
Classically, endometrial cancer presents with bleeding in the postmenopausal woman.
- around 20% of patients with postmenopausal bleeding are found to have endometrial carcinoma (but can be cervical)
- bleeding is usually slight and intermittent at first, and separated by long intervals. It later may become continuous and heavy.
Premenopausal and perimenopausal women usually present with intermenstrual or irregular bleeding.
Other presentations include:
- vaginal discharge - is rare, and in contrast to the offensive discharge that often accompanies cervical carcinoma
- sense of discomfort in the pelvis
- pain is a late symptom, usually indicating extensive disease (1).
On examination, enlargement of the uterus is usually unremarkable except if there is coincident fibromyomata or pyometria. Fixation of the uterus occurs late.
Reference: