The Role of Hysteroscopy In Endometrial Cancer

Abstract

Hysteroscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic and operative technique mainly deployed in cases presented with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) or infertility. In the case of AUB, investigation aims to exclude or identify pathologies that would need further treatment such as cancer, endometrial hyperplasia, submucous myomas or endometrial polyps. In the past, AUB was assessed by dilation and cutterage (D&C). However, during the last decades, diagnostic hysteroscopy tends to be at least equally important in investigating AUB. By using this diagnostic method, the uterine cavity can be thoroughly visualized and an endometrial biopsy specimen can be taken under hysteroscopic view. An EC can be detected in 7-10% of postmenopausal patients and 2-3% of premenopausal patients submitted to hysteroscopy. Hysteroscopy has been recently confirmed to be an accurate diagnostic method in the diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma [2]. But the concerns regarding safety issues of the method, especially the possibility of spreading cancer cells throughout the tubes into the peritoneal cavity have prevented the universal use of hysteroscopy in these cases [3]. No definitive conclusion has been drawn about this issue till now.