Stage II endometrial carcinoma: limiting post-operative radiotherapy to the vaginal vault in node-negative tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the outcomes of patients with node-negative stage II endometrial cancer who received vault brachytherapy without external beam pelvic radiotherapy (EBRT).


METHODS
A retrospective review of all stage II endometrioid type endometrial cancer patients referred to Cancer Care Manitoba was undertaken between October 1995 and March 2001. Forty-nine patients were identified with disease confined to the uterus, but not all patients received extended surgical staging (ESS) with pelvic lymphadenectomy. These patients were evaluated for recurrence and morbidity data.


RESULTS
Twenty node-negative stage II cancers were identified. Three were treated without adjuvant treatment, 12 received vault brachytherapy and 5 received more conventional treatment with EBRT and vault brachytherapy. No recurrences or deaths occurred in these patients. Mean follow-up was 40 months. No surgical complications were encountered in this group and no morbidity from radiotherapy was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Limiting adjuvant treatment to vault brachytherapy for node-negative stage II endometrial cancer results in less morbidity and excellent survival and is worthy of further investigation.
Rittenberg
Paula V C
PV
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Dalhousie University, Dickson Building, 5820 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3H 1V7. paularittenberg@dal.ca
Lotocki
Robert J
RJ
Heywood
Mark S
MS
Krepart
Garry V
GV
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014621:Vagina