Malignant tumors of the female reproductive system

Abstract

Cancers of the female reproductive system-namely, cancer of the cervix uteri (cervical cancer); cancer of the corpus uteri (which includes mostly adenocarcinomas originating in the endometrium and some other rarer cancers, such as sarcomas); ovarian, vulvar, vaginal, and fallopian tube cancers; and choriocarcinoma-are an important cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers are relatively common, while the other cancers of the female reproductive system are very rare. The only agent considered to be carcinogenic to the female reproductive system with sufficient evidence in humans is asbestos, classified as a carcinogen for the human ovary. Exposure to other agents with sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity generally occurs through medical treatments (diethylstilbestrol, oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy, X-radiation, and γ-radiation), environmental exposure (atomic bomb survivors), personal lifestyle habits (smoking, perineal use of talc-based body powder), or infections with viruses, namely, human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV1) and several human papilloma virus (HPV) types.