Three basic pathological types of endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer, also known as uterine body cancer, is second only to cervical cancer in the incidence of female reproductive system cancer. Pathological classification of uterine cancer helps to formulate treatment plans. There are three basic pathological classifications: polyp type, diffuse type and localized type.

1. Polyp type

Polypoid endometrial cancer is common in postmenopausal women and tends to occur in the uterine horns.

2. Diffuse

The lesion involves all or most of the endometrium. It is not easy to distinguish the early diffuse type from endometrial hyperplasia. Through careful examination of the tumor site, it can be identified that the mucosal layer of the tumor is thickened, the surface is rough and there are irregular polyp-like protrusions of different sizes, while benign endometrial hyperplasia is softer and has a smoother surface.

In addition to spreading in the endometrium, the cancer can invade the myometrium and even infiltrate the uterine serosa at a certain stage and can metastasize to the ovaries, parauterine, rectum and bladder. In the late stage, the surface of the cancer will become necrotic and ulcerated, and secondary infection is common.

3. Limited type

This type is relatively rare. The scope of the cancer is limited, involving only a part of the endometrium. The appearance is the same as the diffuse type. The cancer on the surface is not large, but it invades the muscle layer deep into the uterine wall, causing the uterine body to enlarge or become necrotic and infected, forming uterine wall ulcers. In the late stage, there is also peripheral infiltration or metastasis.