Uterine cancer
Encyclopedia
The term uterine cancer may refer to any of several different types of cancer
which occur in the uterus
, namely:
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
which occur in the uterus
Uterus
The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...
, namely:
- Uterine sarcomaUterine sarcomaA uterine sarcoma is a malignant tumor that arises from the smooth muscle or connective tissue of the uterus.-Histology:Subtypes include leiomyosarcomas, endometrial stromal sarcomas, carcinosarcomas and "other" sarcomas....
s: sarcomaSarcomaA sarcoma is a cancer that arises from transformed cells in one of a number of tissues that develop from embryonic mesoderm. Thus, sarcomas include tumors of bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, vascular, and hematopoietic tissues...
s of the myometriumMyometriumThe myometrium is the middle layer of the uterine wall, consisting mainly of uterine smooth muscle cells , but also of supporting stromal and vascular tissue...
, or muscular layer of the uterus, are most commonly leiomyosarcomaLeiomyosarcomaLeiomyosarcoma , aka LMS, is a malignant cancer of smooth muscle....
s. - Endometrial cancerEndometrial cancerEndometrial cancer refers to several types of malignancies that arise from the endometrium, or lining, of the uterus. Endometrial cancers are the most common gynecologic cancers in the United States, with over 35,000 women diagnosed each year. The incidence is on a slow rise secondary to the...
: - Endometrial carcinomas originate from cells in the glands of the endometriumEndometrium-Function:The endometrium is the innermost glandular layer and functions as a lining for the uterus, preventing adhesions between the opposed walls of the myometrium, thereby maintaining the patency of the uterine cavity. During the menstrual cycle or estrous cycle, the endometrium grows to a...
(uterine lining). These include the common and readily treatable well-differentiated endometrioid adenocarcinoma, as well as the more aggressive uterine papillary serous carcinoma and uterine clear-cell carcinoma. - Endometrial stromal sarcomas originate from the connective tissueConnective tissue"Connective tissue" is a fibrous tissue. It is one of the four traditional classes of tissues . Connective Tissue is found throughout the body.In fact the whole framework of the skeleton and the different specialized connective tissues from the crown of the head to the toes determine the form of...
s of the endometriumEndometrium-Function:The endometrium is the innermost glandular layer and functions as a lining for the uterus, preventing adhesions between the opposed walls of the myometrium, thereby maintaining the patency of the uterine cavity. During the menstrual cycle or estrous cycle, the endometrium grows to a...
, and are far less common than endometrial carcinomas. - Malignant mixed Müllerian tumors are rare endometrial tumors which show both glandular (carcinomatousCarcinomaCarcinoma is the medical term for the most common type of cancer occurring in humans. Put simply, a carcinoma is a cancer that begins in a tissue that lines the inner or outer surfaces of the body, and that generally arises from cells originating in the endodermal or ectodermal germ layer during...
) and stromal (sarcomatousSarcomaA sarcoma is a cancer that arises from transformed cells in one of a number of tissues that develop from embryonic mesoderm. Thus, sarcomas include tumors of bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, vascular, and hematopoietic tissues...
) differentiation – carcinosarcoma behaves similar to a high grade carcinoma, and it is felt to be of epithelial origin rather than true sarcoma. - Cervical cancerCervical cancerCervical cancer is malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri or cervical area. One of the most common symptoms is abnormal vaginal bleeding, but in some cases there may be no obvious symptoms until the cancer is in its advanced stages...
arises from the transformation zone of the cervixCervixThe cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal wall...
, the lower portion of the uterus and connects to the upper aspect of the vaginaVaginaThe vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
. - Gestational trophoblastic diseaseGestational trophoblastic diseaseGestational trophoblastic disease is a term used for a group of pregnancy-related tumours. These tumours are rare, and they appear when cells in the womb start to grow out of control. The cells that form gestational trophoblastic tumours are called trophoblasts and come from tissue that grows to...
relates to neoplastic processes originating from tissue of a pregnancy that often is located in the uterus.