Uterine Cancer Tests
Diagnosing Endometrial/Uterine Cancer
Early detection of endometrial/uterine cancer improves the chances that treatment will be successful. If you are experiencing symptoms such as unusual vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain or abnormal vaginal discharge, see your doctor.
How Is Endometrial/Uterine Cancer Detected?
After an assessment of your symptoms, risk factors and medical history in addition to a physical and pelvic exam, you may undergo one or more of the following tests to help detect endometrial/uterine cancer:
- CT scan (CAT scan): A procedure takes detailed pictures of areas inside the body from varying angles. The images are created by a computer connected to an X-ray machine.
- Pelvic ultrasound: This noninvasive test produces images of female pelvic organs like the vagina, uterus, cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes.
- Transvaginal ultrasound: For this test, a probe is inserted into the vagina to collect images of the reproductive organs.
- Endometrial biopsy: During an endometrial biopsy, a small sample of the uterine lining is removed to examine.
- Hysteroscopy: This procedure allows for a thorough examination of the uterus and cervix using a hysteroscope, a thin tube with a light attached that is then inserted into the uterus.
- Dilation and curettage (D&C): This procedure removes tissue from inside the uterus to examine.
Staging Endometrial/Uterine Cancer
Proper staging of endometrial/uterine cancer is important in creating an effective treatment plan.
- In Stage 1, cancer is confined to the uterus.
- In Stage 2, the cancer has spread to the cervix.
- By Stage 3, the cancer has spread beyond the uterus and cervix to the fallopian tubes, ovaries, vagina and lymph nodes nearby.
- Stage 4 indicates that the cancer has spread further than the pelvic area to organs like the bladder, abdomen, intestine or other parts of the body.