Endometrial abnormalities in three sisters from a family with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer syndrome

Annual outpatient hysteroscopy and endometrial sampling (OHES) in HNPCC/Lynch syndrome (LS)

BACKGROUND

LS women have a 40-60% lifetime risk of endometrial cancer (EC). Most international guidelines recommend screening. However, data on efficacy are limited.

PURPOSE

To assess the performance of OHES for EC screening in LS and compare it with transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) alone.

METHODS

A prospective observational cohort study of LS women attending a tertiary high-risk familial gynaecological cancer clinic was conducted. LS women opting for EC screening underwent annual OHES and TVS. Histopathological specimens were processed using a strict protocol. Data of women screened between October 2007 and March 2010 were analysed from a bespoke database. Histology was used as the gold standard. Diagnostic accuracy of OHES was compared with TVS using specificity, and positive (PLR) and negative (NLR) likelihood ratios.

RESULTS

Forty-one LS women underwent 69 screens (41 prevalent, 28 incident). Four (three prevalent, one incident) women were detected to have EC/atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH), five had endometrial polyps and two had endometrial hyperplasia (EH) on OHES. TVS detected two of four EC/AEH. OHES had similar specificity of 89.8% (CI 79.2, 96.2%), but higher PLR 9.8 (CI 4.6, 21) and lower NLR (zero) compared to TVS: specificity 84.75%(CI 73, 92.8%), PLR 3.28 (CI 1.04, 10.35) and NLR 0.59 (CI 0.22, 1.58). No interval cancers occurred over a median follow-up of 22 months. The annual incidence was 3.57% (CI 0.09, 18.35) for EC, 10.71% (CI 2.27, 28.23) for polyps and 21.4% (CI 8.3, 40.1) for any endometrial pathology.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that in LS, annual OHES is acceptable and has high diagnostic accuracy for EC/AEH screening. Larger international studies are needed for confirmation, given the relatively small numbers of LS women at individual centres. It reinforces the current recommendation that endometrial sampling is crucial when screening these women.

Performance of office hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy for detecting endometrial disease in women at risk of human non-polyposis colon cancer: a prospective study

The objective of this study was to report the value of diagnostic hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy for the detection of complex atypical hyperplasia or cancer in asymptomatic human non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC) patients. The secondary objective was to evaluate the accuracy of hysteroscopy, using endometrial biopsy as a gold standard. Consecutive patients at risk of HNPCC evaluated between January 1, 1999, and June 30, 2006 were included if they underwent diagnostic hysteroscopy at least once. Patients with a history of hysterectomy and those unwilling to undergo diagnostic hysteroscopy were not included. Yearly follow-up evaluations included diagnostic hysteroscopy, with endometrial biopsy. Hysteroscopic and histologic findings were recorded and compared. We included 62 patients, of whom 13 had mismatch repair gene mutations and 49 met Amsterdam II criteria. Of 125 attempted hysteroscopies, 11 (8%) failed. Hysteroscopy showed normally appearing mucosa in 46 cases, nonmalignant lesions in 65 cases, and possibly malignant lesions in 3 cases with abnormal uterine bleeding. Endometrial biopsy was attempted in 116 cases and failed in 12 (10%). Three cases each of simple hyperplasia and of cancer were diagnosed. No preinvasive or invasive lesions were found in asymptomatic women. When compared to endometrial biopsy, sensitivity of hysteroscopy was 100% for the detection of hyperplasia or cancer. No cases of cancer were diagnosed in asymptomatic patients in our study. However, diagnostic hysteroscopy ensured the diagnosis of endometrial adenocarcinoma in HNPCC women with bleeding. Nevertheless, usefulness and optimal modalities of screening remain to be determined.

[Endometrial cancer in HNPCC syndrome]

The Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer syndrome (HNPCC) has initially been described as a predisposition to colorectal cancers (CRC). Subsequently, other cancers, such as endometrial cancers (EC), have been added. The objective of this review was to update data on endometrial cancers of HNPCC syndrome. Endometrial cancers of the HNPCC syndrome are characterized by a younger age at diagnosis (46-48 year old), and a higher cumulative risk along life (30% at 70 years). Complex atypical hyperplasia seems to occur before the cancer, but the transition between precursors and cancer seems to be short. Histology of endometrial cancers of the HNPCC syndrome appears quite similar to that of sporadic cases, except for non-endometrioid lesions which seem more frequent and could occur in younger women. Screening of endometrial cancer in predisposed women should associate annual clinical examination, transvaginal sonography and endometrial sampling. Unfortunately, available data on screening by sonography show that this test seems poorly accurate, with no asymptomatic cancer or hyperplasia recognized and interval cancers between screenings. Endometrial biopsy appears as the most interesting method, since 11 asymptomatic cancers and 14 hyperplasia have been diagnosed in 175 mutation carriers. Diagnostic hysteroscopy seems also interesting, but requires further evaluation. Prophylactic hysterectomy confers a complete protection against endometrial cancer. However, perioperative morbidity (especially in women with history of colorectal surgery) and long-term effects of ovarian suppression should also be considered. Screening of endometrial cancer remains the main objective of the management of those patients. Endometrial biopsy should have a larger place.

Does a "one-stop" gynecology screening clinic for women in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer families have an impact on their psychological morbidity and perception of health?

Screening programs can reduce the burden of disease, however, they can be associated with raised levels of anxiety. The risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer is increased in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). There is no prospective evidence to support screening for gynecological disease in HNPCC, however, current recommendations include the use of ultrasound and endometrial biopsy. This study assesses the impact of screening for gynecological cancer on self-reported symptoms of anxiety, depression, and perceptions of health. Women from HNPCC families attending gynecological screening (n = 26) completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the ShortForm36v2 questionnaires prior to screening with transvaginal ultrasound, outpatient/office hysteroscopy, endometrial biopsy, and ovarian tumor marker assessment (CA125). The same questionnaires were completed at 3 and 6 months following screening (15/26). Women in HNPCC families attending for gynecological screening did not have excess symptoms of anxiety or depression at baseline in subjective comparison to other populations. The process of screening and false positive screening results had no significant impact on symptoms of anxiety and depression or perceptions of health. We conclude that within the limitations of analysis in this small study group, screening for gynecological disease in HNPCC does not appear to be associated with any psychological morbidity.

Hysteroscopic findings in women at risk of HNPCC. Results of a prospective observational study

OBJECTIVES

To report the feasibility and results of diagnostic hysteroscopy in women at risk of HNPCC.

METHODS

Fifty-seven women with mismatch repair gene mutations (n = 11) or Amsterdam II criteria (n = 46) were followed-up prospectively from January 1999 to March 2005. Flexible hysteroscopy was performed once a year. The endometrium was sampled routinely.

RESULTS

Of 91 attempted hysteroscopies, 10 failed. The endometrial mucosa appeared normal in 34 cases. Polyps were seen in 12 cases, atrophy in 11, hypertrophy in 10, and fibroids in 7; two hysteroscopies suspected malignancy. A micropolypoid appearance was visualized during five hysteroscopies (5/81, 6%). Of the 86 endometrial biopsy attempts, 64 were successful and showed atrophy (n = 14), proliferation (n = 12), secretion (n = 27), polyps (n = 6), simple hyperplasia without atypia (n = 3), or cancer (n = 2). Micropolypoid appearance was not associated with a specific histological pattern. Operative hysteroscopy was done in 24 cases; in two patients with apparently benign focal lesions the results showed simple hyperplasia without atypias. Five patients underwent hysterectomy (simple hyperplasia without atypias, n = 2; endometrioid adenocarcinoma, n = 2; or secretory mucosa, n = 1). This study led to diagnosis of endometrial simple hyperplasia in 6% of cases and of cancer in 3%.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients at risk of HNPCC, hysteroscopy appears feasible to screen endometrial pathology. Two cancers have been diagnosed over 91 patient-years at risk. Hysteroscopy should be compared to sonography as a screening tool in women at risk of HNPCC.