Background: LS
accounts for 3% of newly diagnosed endometrial cancers (EMC) and colon cancers
(CC). Identifying patients with LS is fundamental to enable proper screening
and prevention of at risk malignancies, along with encouraging cascade testing
of family members. We aimed to assess medical student knowledge of LS
associated cancers, screening and prevention measures to decrease malignancy
risk.
Methods: An
anonymous, voluntary, multiple choice survey was emailed to 14 medical schools
throughout the US.
Results: We
surveyed 328 medical students, 65% were MS3 or MS4s. Ninety-two percent knew
that CC is one of two most commonly diagnosed cancers in LS; however only 37%
knew EMC was the other most common malignancy. Fifty-eight percent recognized
that 2-5% of all newly diagnosed EMC and CC are due to LS. Ninety percent
recognized a family history that would indicate screening for LS, but only 48%
knew that all patients diagnosed with EMC prior to age 50 should be screened
for LS per NCCN guidelines.
Discussions: Almost two thirds of
medical students did not recognize EMC as a common LS malignancy and less than
50% were aware of when to screen patients with EMC for LS; almost all students
recognized CC link with LS. Curriculum change with targeted education
regarding endometrial cancer and LS during medical school ob-gyn clerkship
should be implemented. This call to action is critical to improve diagnosis of
LS, screening and prevention of cancers in both patients and family members to
reduce mortality.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2019, Student, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Medical Knowledge, UME, Assessment, Gynecologic Oncology, Genetics,
Allison Brodsky,
BA, NYU School
of Medicine; Bhavana Pothuri, MD
