Endometrial Carcinoma in Young Women

Abstract

Effective clinical management of abnormal uterine bleeding in young women requires the ability to identify the patients in this age group most likely to develop carcinoma of the endometrium. The clinical characteristics of 32 patients under the age of 40 with carcinoma of the endometrium are presented and a high-risk group identified. A prolonged history of menstrual irregularity occurred in 81% of the patients and obesity, usually marked, was found in 81% of the patients. These are the 2 primary clinical characteristics found in young women with endometrial carcinoma. Polycystic ovaries were present in 3 patients and seem to be related to an increased susceptibility to endometrial carcinoma in the young obese patient. The identification of a predisposed population should encourage consideration of prophylaxis in the form of weight reduction and progestogen therapy. A report of a 16-year-old girl with endometrial carcinoma is presented to illustrate the relationship between anovulatory ovarian function, obesity, and polycystic ovaries.