Gynecologic oncology

For the scientific journal of the same name, see Gynecologic Oncology (journal).
Gynecologic oncology
Other namesGynecological cancer
SpecialtyOBGYN, oncology

Gynecologic oncology is a specialized field of medicine that focuses on cancers of the female reproductive system, including ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, vaginal cancer, cervical cancer, and vulvar cancer. As specialists, they have extensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of these cancers.

In the United States, 82,000 women are diagnosed with gynecologic cancer annually.[1] In 2013, an estimated 91,730 were diagnosed.[2]

There is low quality evidence which demonstrates women with gynaecological cancer receiving treatment from specialized centres benefit from longer survival than those managed in standard care.[3] A meta analysis of three studies combining over 9000 women, suggested that specialist gynaecological cancer treatment centres may prolong the lives of women with ovarian cancer compared with general or community hospitals. In addition, a meta‐analysis of three other studies which assessed over 50,000 women, found that teaching centres or specialized cancer centres may prolong women's lives compared to those treated in community or general hospitals.

Gynecological cancers comprise 10-15% of women's cancers, mainly affecting women past reproductive age but posing threats to fertility for younger patients.[4] The most common route for treatment is combination therapy, consisting of a mix of both surgical and non-surgical interventions (radiotherapy, chemotherapy).[4]

  1. ^ "Gynecologic Cancer". Mount Sinai Hospital.
  2. ^ "About Gynecologic Cancers". Foundation for Women's Cancer. Archived from the original on 2016-08-13. Retrieved 2014-07-21.
  3. ^ Woo YL, Kyrgiou M, Bryant A, Everett T, Dickinson HO (March 2012). "Centralisation of services for gynaecological cancer". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2012 (3): CD007945. doi:10.1002/14651858.cd007945.pub2. PMC 4020155. PMID 22419327.
  4. ^ a b Kehoe, Sean (2006-12-01). "Treatments for gynaecological cancers". Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Evidence-Based Gynaecology: Part II. 20 (6): 985–1000. doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2006.06.006. ISSN 1521-6934. PMID 16895764.