Lymph node pathway in the spread of endometrial carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the sentinel nodes of endometrial carcinoma, the spread pathway was clarified. The correlation between lymph node spread and other clinicopathological variables was also analyzed.


METHODS
Dissected lymph node samples in 342 patients who underwent pelvic and selective paraaortic lymphadenectomy were reviewed. Pelvic and paraaortic node (PLN and PAN) status was compared with clinicopathological parameters.


RESULTS
Lymph node metastasis was demonstrated in 52 patients, including 46 cases with PLN metastasis and six patients with independent PAN metastasis. The metastatic sites were most frequent in the obturator and internal iliac nodes. Eleven of 49 patients who underwent PAN dissection were positive for metastasis. Sixteen of 23 cases with parametrial metastasis also metastasized in the retroperitoneal lymph node.


CONCLUSIONS
The lymph node spread pathway in endometrial carcinoma consists of a major route via the obturator node or internal iliac node with or without parametrial involvement, and rarely a direct PAN pathway.
Jobo
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Kitasato University, Japan.
Sato
R
R
Arai
T
T
Tamura
T
T
Watanabe
J
J
Kuramoto
H
H
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010388:Pelvis