Prevalence of Coexisting Endometrial Carcinoma in Patients with Preoperative Diagnosis of Endometrial Hyperplasia with Atypia

BACKGROUND Concurrent carcinoma endometrium occurs in around 40 % of hysterectomy specimen done for premalignant endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia. We intend to study the prevalence of coexisting endometrial cancer in patients who were diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia with atypia and had undergone hysterectomy. METHODS This cross-sectional study conducted at Government Medical College, Thrissur, included all women with a pre-operative diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia with atypia (WHO) undergoing hysterectomy during the study period. RESULTS A total of 40 women were found to have atypical endometrial hyperplasia in the study period. The mean age of presentation was 51 ± 2. 7 yrs. and was more common in multiparous postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal bleeding was the most common presenting symptom and more than 50 % of women were overweight. The proportion of concurrent endometrial carcinoma in women with atypical endometrial hyperplasia was found to be 37. 5 %. 93 % of cases with concurrent endometrial carcinoma were of grade I endometrioid type. High risk features were defined as > 50 % myometrial invasion, seen in 47 % patients. Stage 2 endometrial carcinoma was seen in 27 % patients. 53 % patients had less than 50 % myometrial invasion. Stage 1a and 1b endometrial carcinoma was seen in 53 % and 20 % of patients respectively. CONCLUSIONS Large dicer of overlap exists between atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) and early-stage endometrial carcinoma. Therefore, we should recognise the limitation of endometrial sampling in distinguishing between these two groups. KEYWORDS Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia, Endometrial Carcinoma, Endometrial Sampling