Para-aortic lymphadenectomy in the management of preoperative grade 1 endometrial cancer confined to the uterine corpus.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to determine the risk of para-aortic lymph node metastasis in surgically staged patients presenting with preoperative grade 1 endometrial cancer and to assess the impact of para-aortic lymphadenectomy.


METHODS
A total of 131 consecutive patients diagnosed with preoperative grade 1 endometrial cancer from 2004 to 2009 were analyzed. We included women with endometrial cancer that was thought preoperatively to be confined to the uterine corpus, and all patients had complete staging operation including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, peritoneal washings, pelvic lymphadenectomy, and para-aortic lymphadenectomy.


RESULTS
Of 131 patients, 6 (4.6%) had positive para-aortic lymph nodes and only 2 (1.5%) had isolated para-aortic nodal metastasis with negative pelvic nodes. In comparison of preoperative and postoperative histology, 6.8% of patients were upgraded, with 5.3% grade 2 and 1.5% grade 3. Advanced stage disease was found in 12.9%. Deep myometrial invasion by MRI and CA 125 levels of ≥ 31 U/ml were found to be independent preoperative risk factors for para-aortic lymph node metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
Some patients with preoperative grade 1 endometrial cancer are found to have upgraded disease and para-aortic nodal metastasis. Para-aortic lymphadenectomy should be considered in patients presenting with preoperative grade 1 endometrial cancer, especially in the setting of preoperative CA 125 levels of > 31 U/ml and deep myometrial invasion by MRI.
Yoon
Jong-Hyuck
JH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
Yoo
Seung-Chul
SC
Kim
Woo Young
WY
Chang
Suk-Joon
SJ
Chang
Ki-Hong
KH
Ryu
Hee-Sug
HS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011300:Preoperative Care; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*