OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics of endometrial carcinoma in patients below 45 years of age.

METHODSThe clinical data were collected from 53 patients with endometrial carcinoma below 45 years of age, who were divided into less than 40 year group (group A, 28 cases) and 40 to 45 year group (group B, 25 cases) and their clinical data were compared.

RESULTSA rate of 57.1% (16/28) of the patients in group A were infertile, and 78.5% (22/28) reported irregular menstruation. In group B, the infertility rate was 28.0% (7/25), and 48% (12/25) of the patients were obese, 56% (14/25) had abnormal vaginal bleeding, and 32% (8/25) had diabetes and hypertension. The two groups differed significantly in the infertility rate, number of pregnancies and deliveries and the incidences of obesity, hypertension and diabetes. The pathological classification, grade of differentiation, pathological staging, depth of myometrial invasion, and cervical infiltration status were comparable between the two groups (P>0.05). All the 53 patients received surgical interventions and follow. up for two years, during which 1 patients in group B had relapse.

CONCLUSIONPatients with endometrial carcinoma at 40 years of age or below often have infertility, and those over 40 years are exposed to such high-risk factors as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Its major clinical symptom of endometrial carcinoma is menstrual disorders. The differentiation, pathological staging, pathological classification of the malignancy are not associated with age in patients below 45 years of age. Early diagnosis often warrants more favorable prognosis.