Surgery>>>>>Gynecology
Question 9#

Which of the following is true concerning endometrial carcinoma?

A. Third most common gynecological malignancy
B. Equally frequent in menopausal and postmenopausal women
C. Risk factors include obesity, smoking
D. Use of combination oral contraception pills has a protective effect

Correct Answer is C

Comment:

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy and fourth most common cancer in women. It is most common in menopausal women in the fifth decade of life; up to 15 to 25% of cases occur prior to menopause, and 1 to 5% occur before age 40. Risk factors for the most common type of endometrial cancer include increased exposure to estrogen without adequate opposition by progesterone, either endogenous (obesity, chronic anovulation) or exogenous (hormone replacement). Additional risk factors include diabetes, Lynch II syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer), and prolonged use of tamoxifen. Tamoxifen is a mixed agonist/ antagonist ligand for the estrogen receptor. It is an agonistic in the uterus and an antagonistic to the breast and ovary. Protective factors for endometrial cancer include smoking and use of combination oral contraceptive pills.