Advancements in Early Detection and Diagnosis of Endometrial Carcinoma: New Biomarkers and State-of-the-Art Imaging Techniques
Submission: 05 November 2025 | Acceptance: 02 February 2026 | Publication: 25 April 2026
1Dr Afifa Munir Ahmad, 2Dr Aneela Nadeem, 3Dr. Anum Rauf, 4Dr. Nazia Suleman, 5Mohib Ali, 6Umar Khan, 7Marwa Khurrum
1Pgr Medicine Department, Children Hospital Lahore
2Senior Registrar Obstetrics and gynecology department. Hayat memorial teaching hospital/continental medical college Lahore
3demonstrator, Pathology, Mayo/king Edward medical university
4Consultant gynaecologist, Life Care Hospital, Maternity Home and Pain Clinic, Assistant Professor Abu Ummara Medical and Dental college Lahore
5PIMS
6PIMS
7PIMS
Abstract
Background: Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is the eighth most common cancer in women and is one of the most common gynaecologic malignancies that are increasing in incidence worldwide. It is very vital to test for breast cancer early so that better results could be gained, as illnesses tested at later stages only reduce effectiveness of treatments. Transvaginal ultrasound and endometrial biopsy have been used for diagnosing endometrial cancer; however, they are not so efficacious for early stage diagnosis.
Aim: The purpose of this article is to briefly overview the modern possibilities of biomarkers and imaging techniques needed to increase the effectiveness of early detection and diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma with reference to the parameters of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity.
Methods: Unlike earlier reviews which considered mainly traditional biomarkers and imaging techniques, this review included HE4, CA 125, microRNA, MRI DWI-MRI PET-CT 3D transvaginal ultrasound, and clinical trials and studies only. New imaging biomarkers were examined for sensitivity and specificity and the efficacy of new technologies compared to older techniques.
Results: Out of all the biomarkers measured, HE4 scored highest across both specificity (90%) and sensitivity (85%) and therefore was deemed more effective in differentiating patients with ovarian cancer from the control group than CA-125. The use of HE4 along with advanced imaging techniques such as DWI-MRI boosted the diagnostic detection with the highest rates of 98%. While the application of functional imaging and biomarkers offers a more accurate instead of an earlier diagnosis of EC, their combination offers a more versatile diagnostic model.
Conclusion: These informative biomarkers in conjunction with advanced imaging methods provide a relative enhancement to the early diagnosis of EC enhancing its treatment and eventually minimizing the global mortality rates. Future studies should be directed toward optimizing biomarker panels and developing imaging, and possibly with the application of artificial intelligence improving diagnostic accuracy as well.
Keywords: Endometrial carcinoma, early detection, biomarkers, HE4, CA-125, imaging technologies, MRI, PET-CT, liquid biopsy, artificial intelligence.