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How to Prevent, Diagnose, and Treat Gynecological Cancer in PCO Patients?

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Impact of Polycystic Ovary, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity on Women Health

Part of the book series: ISGE Series ((ISGE))

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Abstract

The association between polycystic ovaries syndrome (PCOS) and endometrial cancer has been described in 1949 by Speert. Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological cancer in North American and European women. There are several etiological and molecular mechanisms explaining the association between PCOS and endometrial cancer. Understanding them could lead to the establishment of possible means of prevention. The main hypothesis is that, in PCOS, there is an insufficient progesterone secretion due to a chronic anovulation leading to a prolonged endometrial exposure to unopposed estrogen. The latter promotes endometrial growth and cancerization. The perfect prevention for endometrial hyperplasia (EH) and endometrial cancer (EC) is not known, but combined oral contraceptive (COC) or progestin therapy are good ways to inhibit endometrial proliferation. The weight control is crucial in this pathology. Metformin has a place in prevention that has yet to be determined. The diagnosis of EH or EC can be made on the basis of the clinic (abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB)), transvaginal ultrasound, biopsy, and hysteroscopy.

Concerning the risk of ovarian and breast cancer, no increased risk was found in women suffering from PCOS.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium

    Catherine Galopin, Geraldine Brichant, Linda Tebache & Michelle Nisolle

Authors
  1. Catherine Galopin
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  2. Geraldine Brichant
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  3. Linda Tebache
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  4. Michelle Nisolle
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michelle Nisolle .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology, Pisa, Italy

    Andrea R. Genazzani

  2. Endocrinology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Lourdes Ibáñez

  3. Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology, Wrocław Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland

    Andrzej Milewicz

  4. Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynaecworld, Mumbai, India

    Duru Shah

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© 2021 International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology

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Galopin, C., Brichant, G., Tebache, L., Nisolle, M. (2021). How to Prevent, Diagnose, and Treat Gynecological Cancer in PCO Patients?. In: Genazzani, A.R., Ibáñez, L., Milewicz, A., Shah, D. (eds) Impact of Polycystic Ovary, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity on Women Health. ISGE Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63650-0_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63650-0_18

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-63649-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-63650-0

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