An evaluation of routine follow-up of patients treated for endometrial carcinoma.
This retrospective review evaluates the outcome benefit of a standard follow-up protocol for 435 patients treated for endometrial carcinoma between 1981 and 1986. Routine follow-ups consisting of physical examinations and vaginal cytologies were done every 3 months for the first year, 4 months for the second year, and 6 months thereafter. Chest X rays were done biannually. Demographic, histopathologic, therapeutic, and follow-up data were studied. Exclusions due to incomplete follow-up (70), persistent disease (40), or other primary malignancies (8) left 317 patients with a disease-free state assigned to follow-up. Recurrences developed in 53 patients being followed, 40 (75%) of whom were symptomatic. Family physicians primarily diagnosed recurrences in 34 patients while recurrences in only 11 of the 53 patients (21%) were detected on routine follow-up at the cancer center (5 by examination and 6 by chest X ray). Therefore, only one recurrence was detected for every 206 routine follow-up visits. Vaginal vault cytology was not diagnostic in any patient. Seventy percent of recurrences occurred within 3 years. There was no statistical difference in survival between the group detected on routine follow-up and those who were symptomatic (P = 0.55). Routine follow-up of patients treated for endometrial cancer did not improve detection of recurrences or survival.
Department of Gynecology, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
A G
AG
Shumsky
G C
GC
Stuart
P M
PM
Brasher
J G
JG
Nation
D I
DI
Robertson
S
S
Sangkarat
D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis