Sarcoma of the uterus: signs, photos, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, life forecast

One of the most insidious diseases in women is sarcoma of the uterus. The prognosis of life in this disease varies depending on the stage of the pathological process. However, most often he is disappointing. Five-year survival at the initial stage is 47% of all cases. At detection of an oncological disease at the fourth stage - only 10%. Talk about positive dynamics is not necessary even with timely diagnosis and competent treatment.

Description of the disease

Sarcoma of the uterus is a rare but insidious pathology. Neoplasm is formed from undifferentiated elements of the endometrium or myometrium. Oncological disease occurs in women of all ages, including small girls. It is manifested by cyclic bleeding, abdominal pain, general malaise. Sarcoma is difficult to diagnose at the initial stages of development. The answer to the question of full recovery depends on the stage of the pathological process, the age of the patient and the state of her health. All forms of the disease are characterized by a high degree of malignancy. Therefore, they are difficult to treat.

Forms of uterine sarcoma

Depending on the location of the malignant cells, the following forms of the disease are distinguished:

• Leymiosarcoma is the most aggressive tumor, which can reach a diameter of 5 cm. It is formed exclusively in soft tissues of the myometrium.
• Endometrial stromal sarcoma develops in the connective supporting structure of the uterus, it is extremely rare (only 1% of all cases of malignant lesions). There are two categories of tumors: substandard and undifferentiated. In the first case, the neoplasm is practically safe for life, slowly progressing. An undifferentiated tumor is accompanied by a poor state of health, which affects the patient's condition.
• Carcinosarcoma is formed in the endometrium.

Many people confuse two diseases: sarcoma of the uterus and cancer. In fact, these are completely different pathologies. Cancerous tumors are formed from epithelial elements, and sarcomas affect only connective tissues.

Causes of cancer

Sarcoma of the uterus refers to pathologies of complex etiology. Scientists put forward several versions explaining its origin. Most of them are sure that the disease develops under the influence of a whole group of factors. This may be a failure in the hormonal system or numerous injuries of the uterus, an abnormal abdominal operation, an abortion, or any other interference.

The disease also occurs against the background of embryonic development problems. No less dangerous factor is the pathological proliferation of endometrial tissue. To the development of pathology sometimes leads to improper healing of the site, removal of the polyp or the fusion of several formations. Neuroendocrine disorders are another cause of sarcoma. An important role in predisposing factors is given to harmful habits, abuse of medicines. Doctors should be alerted and a sharp cessation of ovulation.

Who is at risk?

Gynecologists try to draw the attention of women to the prevention of sarcoma, since it is extremely rare to completely cure this pathology. First of all, it is shown to those who are part of the so-called risk group. These are women:

• Patients with polycystic ovaries (the disease provokes hormonal imbalance);
• Suffering from cancer of the breast;
• Never giving birth;
• Survived the late onset of menopause (menopause after 50 years of age).

A huge role in this matter belongs to a hereditary predisposition. For health, special attention should be paid to women after 40 years of age, whose close relatives have been diagnosed with tumor diseases, including uterine sarcoma.

Symptoms and signs of illness

Very often, sarcoma is called mute pathology, since there are no obvious signs of it at the initial stage of development. Women are slow to seek help from a doctor, perceiving a worsening state of stress or less serious illness. Even in the late stages of the sarcoma may not show characteristic symptoms, continuing to increase in size or masquerade as fibromioma.

As the disease progresses and depending on the specific localization of the pathological process, there is a violation of the menstrual cycle. Women complain of the appearance of pain in the lower abdomen, abundant discharge with putrefactive odor. Also, the appetite disappears, the skin acquires a yellowish hue. In blood tests, changes are clearly discernible.

Later manifestations of sarcoma lead to anemia, permanent weakness and ascites. As a result of metastasis to the lungs, pleurisy develops, and jaundice develops into the liver. Penetration of malignant cells into the spine is accompanied by the appearance of pain in its various parts.

Often when gynecological examination for the purpose of prevention, doctors diagnose "sarcoma of the uterus". Signs indicating the onset of the pathological process may be absent. This coincidence is considered successful, because timely treatment at times increases the chances of a positive outcome. Gynecologists regularly recall the importance of periodic examinations of women after 40 years, especially before the onset of menopause.

Stages of sarcoma development

The disease is characterized by slow development.

• At the initial stage, the sarcoma is a small tumor. It can be confined to the mucous or muscular layer.
• In the second stage, the tumor increases in size, but does not go beyond the body of the uterus. There is also partial infiltration of the organ.
• In the third stage the neoplasm grows into the body of the uterus, but remains within the small pelvis. Sometimes metastasis is observed in the ovaries, regional lymph nodes. At this stage, the disease of the uterus sarcoma begins to manifest itself as characteristic symptoms, if they have been absent until now.
• The fourth stage is the period of tumor disintegration and the formation of metastases. Secondary lesions spread to any system of internal organs, affecting the lungs and bone marrow.

Methods of diagnosis

The detection of sarcoma in the initial stages is often difficult due to the absence of obvious symptoms. At the primary consultation, the gynecologist will find out an anamnesis and accompanying data on the cases of oncological pathologies with the next of kin. Gynecologic examination allows to reveal changes in the color of the cervix, to detect signs of neoplasm. Then a number of laboratory and apparatus tests (blood test, CT, MRI, hysteroscopy and ultrasound of internal organs) are assigned.

Differential diagnosis of uterine sarcoma allows the exclusion of diseases with a similar clinical picture. These include ovarian tumors, benign genital organs, endometrial polyps. Confirmation of the final diagnosis is impossible without biopsy. During this procedure, tumor tissues are examined in the laboratory.

Metastases with sarcoma

Neoplasm can disperse metastases along with blood flow, and also grow into adjacent organs. How does the spread of malignant elements occur? Sarcoma throws its particles into the blood, from where they enter the respiratory and bone systems, the external genitalia. Most often, the lesion affects the left side of the lungs. Malignant cells often enter the appendages. This complication usually occurs with the diagnosis of "endometrial uterine sarcoma". Metastases rapidly migrate throughout the body, which can lead to an early lethal outcome.

Treatment Options

In medical practice, several methods of treating uterine sarcoma are used. Most often, patients are offered a combined option, which includes surgery and chemoradiotherapy. The operation is performed only at the initial stages of the pathological process. It allows you to determine the stage of the disease and carry out the removal of the tumor. The amount of intervention depends on the location of the tumor and its size. At best, the uterus is removed from the appendages, and at the worst - all adjacent organs. With the running cases, only one surgical intervention will not be enough. As for the issue of radiation therapy, today it is one of the most effective options for fighting the disease of sarcoma of the uterus. The forecast and in this case may be disappointing. It is prescribed to destroy the scattered cancer cells.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy courses for sarcoma of the uterus suggest the use of anthracyclines (Idarubicin, Doskorubicin, Epirubicin). These are the so-called antitumor antibiotics. Currently, specialists are actively studying the effect of the drug "Ifosfamide", its use both in monotherapy, and in combination with other medicines. At a chemotherapy positive dynamics is observed at 30% of patients.

The use of combined treatment is much more effective, but it has a number of side effects. Positive dynamics is observed from combined therapy "Docetaxel" and "Gemcitabine". It is usually used repeatedly for relapses.

What other drugs are used in the diagnosis of "sarcoma of the uterus"? Treatment with hormonal agents is justified only with a low degree of malignancy of the neoplasm.

Forecast

What prognosis does the uterine sarcoma have? Photos of patients who managed to survive this insidious disease, inspire hope. However, in most cases, the outcome of the pathology is unfavorable, the probability of relapse is high. What does statistics say about this?

With the timely diagnosis of the tumor and the operation, the probability of recurrence is 65%. In case of detection of sarcoma in the late stages, the chances of re-development of the pathological process are 90%. Typically, the life expectancy of a patient after surgery is 2 years. Statistics confirm that a five-year survival after treatment of sarcoma is observed only in 40% of cases.

Depending on the stage of the disease, this picture may look like this:

• The first stage - 47%;
• The second stage - 44%;
• The third stage - 40%;
• The fourth stage is 10%.

However, this is just research data, during which the scientists recorded cases of a favorable outcome after treatment of uterine sarcoma disease. How many live patients with this diagnosis, it is difficult to say. When answering this question, it is necessary to know the stage of the disease, the treatment performed, and the cases of relapse. Favorable course is characterized only by those sarcomas that are formed from fibromatous nodes. And in this case, timely diagnosis and treatment is required.

Preventive measures

How to prevent the development of this dangerous disease? First and foremost, experts recommend that a gynecological examination be performed annually. It is also necessary to follow the prescriptions of the doctor in the treatment of "female" diseases, especially those related to hormonal disorders. A special role in prevention is given to the issue of pregnancy. Doctors do not recommend delaying with the planning of the baby. If for some reason you do not want to try on the role of the mother, you should use contraception and not allow abortion. It is impossible not to mention proper nutrition. The diet should consist mainly of fresh vegetables and fruits. And the number of animal fats is better limited. Abandon your addictions, spend more time outdoors and go in for sports.

Conclusion

The attention of scientists and doctors is still riveted by such a rare disease as sarcoma of the uterus. The prognosis of life with this disease can not be predicted. Although sarcoma is a rare disease, it is on the list of aggressive malignant neoplasms. Even with timely and competent treatment, it is not necessary to hope for positive dynamics. Pathology can occur in women of all ages. If you have atypical symptoms and malaise, you need to see a doctor. It is even better to take preventive examinations every year. Be healthy!