Which condition involves the thickening of the endometrium and is often associated with unopposed estrogen stimulation?

• A. Endometrial hyperplasia
• B. Ovarian cancer
• C. Uterine fibroids
• D. Endometriosis

Answer: (A)

Endometrial hyperplasia refers to the condition in which the endometrial lining of the uterus becomes excessively thickened, primarily due to prolonged or unopposed estrogen stimulation. This condition commonly arises when there is an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone, often seen in scenarios such as anovulation where progesterone is not produced to counteract the effects of estrogen.

This increased growth of the endometrial tissue can sometimes lead to abnormal uterine bleeding or, in some cases, may progress to endometrial cancer if left untreated. The other conditions listed do not predominantly involve the thickening of the endometrium as a primary pathophysiological mechanism linked to unopposed estrogen. Ovarian cancer primarily affects the ovaries and may not directly cause thickening of the endometrial lining. Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that originate from the muscle tissue of the uterus rather than the endometrium itself. Endometriosis involves the presence of endometrial-type tissue outside the uterus, characterized by chronic inflammation and pain rather than thickening of the uterine lining.

Thus, endometrial hyperplasia is specifically associated with this unique mechanism of unopposed estrogen stimulation leading to the pathological thickening of the endometr