title: Pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy for surgical staging of high-risk endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium.
abstract: The objective of this study was to analyze the results of pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy in high-risk patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium and no clinical or gross surgical evidence of extrauterine metastases. From August 1987 to October 1992, 50 patients with high-risk endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium had pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy performed. The median number of lymph nodes removed was 18. No preoperative radiotherapy was administered. Pelvic lymph node metastases (20.0%) and para-aortic lymph node metastases (16.0%) were the most common sites of extrauterine metastases diagnosed. Eight patients (80.0%) with pelvic lymph node metastases also had para-aortic metastases. All 8 patients with para-aortic lymph node metastases had pelvic lymph node metastases. Pelvic lymphadenopathy was diagnosed on surgical exploration in 30% of patients with pelvic lymph node metastases, and para-aortic lymphadenopathy was present in 50% with para-aortic metastases. Six of 46 patients (13.0%) without pelvic or para-aortic lymphadenopathy had microscopic lymph node metastases. Palpation of the pelvic and para-aortic lymph node areas alone is inadequate in identifying patients with lymph node metastases. The addition of routine pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy to TAH/BSO will identify subclinical lymph node metastases in a significant number of patients who may benefit from individualized postoperative therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Marshfield Clinic, Wisconsin 54449-5777.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010220:Para-Aortic Bodies; D010388:Pelvis; D012307:Risk Factors