Ultrasound can help determine the presence of uterine cancer (also known as endometrial cancer), and the kind of appropriate treatment to give the patient.
The patient is first given an ultrasound examination by a qualified radiology technician. During the ultrasound, high-frequency sound waves are bounced off of the uterus to produce pictures of it.
Sonohysterography can also be used to get a more detailed internal picture of the uterus and give a definitive diagnosis of uterine and endometrial cancer.
Before The Ultrasound Scan for Uterine Cancer
Women will usually be referred by their doctor for an ultrasound if they have been experiencing particular symptoms which might cause the doctor to suspect uterine or endometrial cancer.
These symptoms include:
- pelvic pain
- abnormal bleeding
- other menstrual irregularities
Uterine and endometrial cancer is rare in women under 40. Signs of bleeding in post-menopausal women will therefore be of particular concern and warrant further investigation.
The ultrasound scan can also help visualize features of the uterus which have been felt upon the doctor's examination, such as ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids, and ovarian or uterine cysts or tumors.
Performing the Ultrasound Scan for Uterine Cancer
The ultrasound can be performed abdominally, (transabdominally) or vaginally (transvaginally).
An abdominal ultrasound will help visualize the whole pelvic region.
A transvaginal ultrasound will view three main areas:
- The endometriumor the lining of the uterus, including its thickness and any tumors which might be present;
- The myometrium, or muscular walls of the uterus, including its thickness and any abnormalities on its surface;
- The two ovaries, and any cysts or tumors on them.
Uterine cancer will occur in both the endometrium and myometrium. Endometrial cancer is the most common form of uterine cancer.
Sonohysterography to Detect Uterine Cancer
Sonohysterography allows for a more in-depth investigation of the uterine cavity. If the transvaginal ultrasound has revealed cause for concern, or the patient has presented with bleeding and is post-menopausal, the sonohysterography will be used to examine in more detail any abnormal condition of the uterus, or any scarring (adhesions), polyps, benign fibroid tumors, cysts, or cancerous tumors that might be present inside the uterus.
Performing the Sonohysterography to Detect Uterine Cancer
The patient is positioned as if for a regular pelvic examination/Pap smear, with her feet in stirrups. Her cervix will be cleansed, and a catheter will be inserted into the cervix to help dilate it. The transvaginal probe will be inserted into the vaginal canal, and up into the cervix via the catheter.
The radiologist performing the sonohysterography will gently inject a sterile saline solution into the uterus via the catheter in order to dilate it. Once the uterus is dilated, the radiologist should be able to see various internal features of the uterus more clearly thanks to the sound waves produced by the transvaginal probe inserted into the cervix.
The saline may not be able to reveal the entire anatomy of the uterus if there are large fibroids, polyps, or other tumors or irregularities blocking the cervix or limiting the probe's scanning range.
Results of the Ultrasound Scans
Ultrasound and sonohysterography are very useful radiological tools for the diagnosis of uterine cancer and other uterine and endometrial conditions which suggest cancer, but might be benign, such as fibroids and cysts. Diagnostic radiology can help determine the locations of certain abnormalities and indicate changes within the uterus over time which radiologists would like to follow up on.
The results of these various forms of ultrasound scan will help determine the course of treatment for the symptomatic patient. If uterine or endometrial cancer is diagnosed after ultrasound, patients will usually undergo a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) and perhaps also radiation/chemotherapy.
References:
Google Health, " Endometrial Cancer," (accessed March 31, 2010)
Medline Plus, "Uterine Cancer," (accessed March 31, 2010)
Evelyn Trimborn - Evelyn Trimborn is a freelance writer who frequently contributes to a number of blogs, including: healthful-goddess.com, ...
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