Fertility issue in early stage endometrial cancer patients.

Abstract

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common cancer of the female reproductive system in developed countries. The incidence of EC has been increasing in young women. Approximately 4% of cases are aged <40 years. These young women may wish to delay therapy until after they have children. Common complaints in patients with EC include irregular vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, and enlarged uterus. Imaging techniques such as transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be utilized in detecting EC. Although the recommended treatment of EC is hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with or without systemic lymph node dissection, loss of reproductive function is the primary limiting factor of this surgical approach. Some studies have reported favorable results with high-dose oral progestins or levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system or hysteroscopic tumor resection followed by treatment with high-dose oral progestins. The most widely utilized medical treatment regimens are medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) 250–600 mg/day or megestrol acetate (MA) 160–480 mg/day. However, there is still a lack of evidence to establish the optimal dose and duration of progestin treatment. Patients with complete remission (CR) who wish to conceive must be encouraged, and referral to a fertility clinic should be offered as soon as possible. The key aspect of fertility-sparing management in women with EC appears to be the selection of appropriate candidates. Owing to the rarity of this condition, management may often be suboptimal. The aim of this review is to assess the current approaches to management of young women with EC who wish to preserve their fertility.