Is postmenopausal endometrial thickening cancer?

Many women experience endometrial thickening after menopause. In this case, many people are worried about whether it will cause endometrial cancer?

There is no doubt that early diagnosis and treatment of endometrial cancer plays a key role in the survival of cancer patients. The problem is, however, that a large number of factors need to be taken into account when conducting clinical epidemiological analyses in the general population and in cancer screening and prevention strategies relevant to health policies.

Current guidelines do not recommend routine endometrial cancer screening for people at average risk or even at increased risk. For these people, if there is vaginal bleeding after menopause, you should intervene. For Lynch syndrome, the gene variant and family history are the most important risk factors.

On the other hand, the complications of too much proactive intervention should also be addressed, but tragically, scientific research on this is extremely rare. The incidence of uterine perforation has been reported to be 0.3%. In addition, although uterine wall biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing endometrial cancer, its sensitivity as a general screening tool is questionable.

1. The uterine wall is continuously stimulated by estrogen

It is related to anovulatory functional uterine bleeding, polycystic ovary syndrome, multifunctional uterine and ovarian tumors, long-term monotherapy with estrogen after menopause, etc., the body has no progesterone resistance or insufficient progesterone, the uterine wall lacks regular changes, and is in a proliferative state for a long time.

2. Related to excessive endometrial hyperplasia

About 15% of simple hyperplasia of the uterine wall will develop into endometrial cancer; about 3% of simple hyperplasia will develop into endometrial cancer; and about 29% of intestinal metaplasia will develop into endometrial cancer.

3. Physical fitness factors

Endometrial cancer is more likely to occur in people with obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Obesity, hypertension, and diabetes are generally referred to as the endometrial cancer triad. Singleness and infertility are also high-risk factors for endometrial cancer.

4. Delayed menopause

The risk factors for endometrial cancer in women whose menopause age is >52 years old are 1.5 to 2.5 times that in women whose menopause age is <45 years old.

5. Genetic factors

Those with a family history of ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, or breast cancer are more likely to develop endometrial cancer than those without a family history.