Pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy in patients with endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium.
BACKGROUND
The purpose is to determine the rate of lymph node metastases in women with endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the endometrium (EAE) undergoing systematic lymphadenectomy.


METHODS
Patients (349) underwent a complete pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy from caudal to the median circumflex to the level of the renal vessels.


RESULTS
Grade 1 tumors accounted for 32.7% of the tumors and 31.0% of the positive nodes, grade 2 accounted for 47.3% of the tumors (37.9% of positive nodes), and grade 3 accounted for 20.1% of the tumors and 31.0% of the positive nodes (P>0.05). Positive nodes were found in 15.8% of grade 1 tumors, 13.3% of grade 2 tumors and 25.7% of grade 3 tumors (P>0.05). Isolated para-aortic involvement without pelvic nodal involvement occurred in 29% of patients with positive nodes.


CONCLUSIONS
When complete lymphadenectomies are performed in EAE, positive lymph nodes (including isolated para-aortic lymph nodes) are common in all grades.
Geisler
J P
JP
Indiana Women's Oncology, St. Vincent Hospitals, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. jgeisler@indianawomensoncology.com
Linnemeier
G C
GC
Manahan
K J
KJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D010220:Para-Aortic Bodies; D010388:Pelvis; D012189:Retrospective Studies