Which is the most COMMON gynecologic cancer?

• A. Endometrial
• B. Ovarian
• C. Cervical
• D. Vulvar

Answer: (A)

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer. It has the highest incidence among cancers of the female reproductive system, especially in the United States, largely because conditions that raise estrogen exposure to the lining of the uterus promote its development. Risk factors include obesity, diabetes, hypertension, late menopause, nulliparity, and unopposed estrogen therapy. The typical symptom is abnormal uterine bleeding, often postmenopausal, which usually leads to earlier detection compared with other gynecologic cancers. Cervical cancer incidence has fallen with effective screening and vaccination, ovarian cancer, while more lethal, occurs less frequently, and vulvar cancer is relatively rare. These factors together explain why endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer.