Utility of the Ultrasound Evaluation of Intraperitoneal Fat in Correlation with Endometrial Cancer

Abstract

Introduction: In the context of endometrial cancer, visceral obesity as a risk factor is associated with achronic inflammatory process, confirmed by the increase in inflammatory marker levels. Material and Method: The study is a case-control analysis including 2 groups of patients: group I – 50 patientsdiagnosed with endometrial cancer, group II – 70 patients without gynecological pathology orinflammatory disorders (control group). The diagnosis of endometrial cancer was made followinghistopathological examination that evaluated the tissue material obtained following endometrialbiopsy. After clinical examination and anthropometric measurements, these patients underwentultrasound and computer tomography examination by which intraperitoneal fat was determined. All parameters were included in the study database. Results: A significant correlation coefficient was alsofound between visceral fat evaluated by CT and visceral fat assessed by US (r =0.96, p<0.0001). Inthe case of the control group, the mean visceral fat area was 159.14±42.5 cm2), while in the groupof patients with endometrial cancer, the mean visceral fat area was 251.37±59.78 cm2. Thus, there isa statistically significant difference in intraperitoneal fat between the two groups (p<0.0001).Conclusions: A visceral fat area larger than 250 cm2 is a risk factor for endometrial cancer. Themeasurement of visceral fat by US can be a screening method for endometrial cancer in obesepatients.