title: Practice patterns of SGO members for stage IIIA endometrial cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of surgical staging is to better determine prognosis and treatment. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIA endometrial cancer is a heterogenous disease, and adjuvant therapy is not well-defined. The aim of this study was to survey the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) members and fellows about their approach to the treatment of patients with stage IIIA endometrial cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  All 850 members of the SGO were mailed surveys that asked how they would manage various case scenarios of stage IIIA endometrial cancer. Data were collected using an Internet survey database. Frequency distributions were determined, and nonparametric tests were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-three percent of SGO members and fellows responded. For the treatment of stage IIIA disease with malignant cytology only, adjuvant therapy was recommended 46%, 62%, and 98% of the time for women with grades 1, 2, and UPSC, respectively. Sixty-six percent of respondents would not remove malignant cytology from the current staging criteria. Ninety-nine percent of respondents recommended adjuvant therapy for patients with adnexal or serosal involvement. Eighty-six percent indicated that a hysteroscopy for diagnosis would not alter their treatment recommendations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While most gynecologic oncologists in our survey recommend adjuvant therapy for stage IIIA endometrial carcinoma, our results showed that patients with malignant cytology only would receive different treatments than patients with adenxal or serosal involvement. Histology and grade of the tumor are predictors of therapy recommendations over malignant cytology. Most respondents agreed that patients with malignant cytology should remain in stage IIIA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Division of Surgery, Unit 440, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA.
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Brian M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Slomovitz
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.forename: Sheena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gregurich
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: Karen H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Lois M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ramondetta
mesh_terms: D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018283:Cystadenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'