Approximately three weeks prior to admission, Mrs. Man experienced abnormal vaginal bleeding, initially attributing it to hormonal imbalance during menopause. As her condition worsened, she visited a local medical facility for examination. Doctors performed an endometrial biopsy, and pathology results confirmed grade 2 differentiated endometrial carcinoma, a type of cancer originating from the uterine lining. Subsequently, she was transferred to Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, for MRI evaluation and specialized treatment.

MRI results revealed a space-occupying lesion within the uterus, extending into the left uterine horn muscle. Combining this with the pathology findings, Dr. Nguyen Ba My Nhi, Director of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, predicted the disease was at stage one (IB).

According to Dr. My Nhi, endometrial carcinoma is the most common cancer in women. Doctors classify the disease based on cellular morphology observed under a microscope. Mrs. Man's endometrial cancer was moderately differentiated (grade 2), indicating an intermediate level of malignancy. Its early detection offered a good prognosis. Additionally, immunohistochemistry tests showed preserved DNA mismatch repair (MMR) proteins, with no abnormalities recorded, meaning it was not associated with Lynch syndrome.

Dr. My Nhi (at the control console) and her team used the Da Vinci Xi robot to perform a hysterectomy on Mrs. Man. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

As an early-stage cancer patient with underlying conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes, doctors recommended Da Vinci Xi robotic surgery. This approach is minimally invasive, reduces the risk of blood loss, and promotes faster patient recovery. The surgical team performed a total hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, and pelvic lymphadenectomy for Mrs. Man. The entire uterus, adnexa, and pelvic lymph nodes were successfully removed.

Post-operative pathology results confirmed stage IB endometrial cancer. The tumor had invaded one-half of the uterine muscle layer but had not spread externally, and 16 bilateral pelvic lymph nodes showed no cancer cells.

One day after surgery, Mrs. Man was able to walk gently and was discharged after 48 hours. Thanks to early detection, she did not require adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy, only regular follow-ups.

Dr. Ung Quoc Thuong examined Mrs. Man before her discharge. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Dr. My Nhi stated that if endometrial cancer is detected and treated radically in stage one, the five-year survival rate exceeds 90%. The risk of developing the disease increases in women with estrogen imbalance, particularly those undergoing prolonged estrogen replacement therapy. It is also more common in individuals who experienced early menarche (before 12 years old), late menopause (after 50 years old), have never given birth, are obese, or consume a diet high in animal fat. Women with hypertension, diabetes, or a history of breast or ovarian cancer also face a higher risk.

Doctors advise post-menopausal women experiencing abnormal vaginal bleeding to seek early gynecological examination for timely diagnosis and treatment.

Tue Diem