Prospective evaluation of the morbidity of complete lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer

Fanning S, Firestein S. Prospective evaluation of the morbidity of complete lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer. Int J Gynecol Cancer 1998; 8 : 270–273.
The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate the morbidity of complete lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer. Eighty consecutive eligible patients with endometrial cancer underwent surgical staging consisting of total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, peritoneal cytology, complete bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy, and aortic lymphadenectomy. We prospectively evaluated operative time, blood loss, and morbidity of lymphadenectomy.
The median number of pelvic lymph nodes resected was 21 and aortic lymph nodes was 7. Median time of lymphadenectomy was 24 min. Median blood loss from lymphadenectomy was < 25 cc. There was one complication from lymphadenectomy. We conclude that, in this prospective study, complete pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy in the surgical staging of endometrial cancer was performed quickly, with minimal blood loss and morbidity. In endometrial carcinoma surgical staging, the majority of operative time, blood loss, and morbidity is secondary to hysterectomy/oophorectomy rather than lymphadenectomy.     

子宫内膜癌淋巴结切除适应证和争议

早期子宫内膜癌有淋巴转移风险,但是否对所有患者均需行区域淋巴结切除仍有争议。可根据术前、术中的评估决定是否行淋巴结切除及何种范围的淋巴结切除。高危病例应该实施系统性淋巴结切除。     

Potential therapeutic role of para-aortic lymphadenectomy in node-positive endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the potential therapeutic role of para-aortic lymphadenectomy (PAL) in high-risk patients with endometrial cancer. METHODS: We studied two groups of patients with endometrial cancer who underwent operation at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) during the interval 1984 to 1993: (1) 137 patients at high risk for para-aortic lymph node involvement (myometrial invasion >50%, palpable positive pelvic nodes, or positive adnexae), excluding stage IV disease, and (2) 51 patients with positive nodes (pelvic or para-aortic), excluding stage IV disease. By our definition, PAL required removal of five or more para-aortic nodes. RESULTS: In both groups, no significant difference existed between patients who had PAL (PAL+) and those who did not (PAL-) in regard to clinical or pathologic variables, percentage irradiated, or surgical or radiation complications. Among the 137 high-risk patients, the 5-year progression-free survival was 62% and the 5-year overall survival was 71% for the PAL- group compared with 77 and 85%, respectively, for the PAL+ group (P = 0.12 and 0.06, respectively). For the 51 patients with positive nodes, the 5-year progression-free survival and 5-year overall survival for the PAL- group were 36 and 42% compared with 76 and 77% for the PAL+ group (P = 0.02 and 0.05, respectively). Lymph node recurrences were detected in 37% of the PAL- patients but in none of the PAL+ patients (P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis suggested that submission to PAL was a cogent predictor of progression-free survival (odds ratio = 0.25; P = 0.01) and overall survival (odds ratio = 0.23; P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a potential therapeutic role for formal PAL in endometrial cancer.     

Pelvic lymphadenectomy as alternative to postoperative radiotherapy in high risk early stage endometrial cancer

Objective: The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether surgery followed by radiotherapy in high-risk patients of early stage endometrial cancer can be replaced by formal surgical staging. Cancer-related survival and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were the endpoints of the analysis. Study design: One hundred and eighteen patients with endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma between 1996–2003 were reviewed. Patients with incomplete follow-up and extrauterine spread excluded, leaving 78 women in the final analysis. Low-risk patients (n=37) (Grade 1, myometrial infiltration <1/2 or Grade2, <1/3), treated by standard surgical procedure including total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and peritoneal washing, while staging lymphadenectomy (n=24) or postoperative irradiation (n=17) was added in the high-risk group (Grade 1, >1/2 or Grade 2, >1/3 or Grade3). Results: The median age of patients was 65 years (range, 35–80 years) and the median follow-up 38 months (range, 9–98 months). The recurrence rate in low-risk patients was 2.7%, the cancer-related survival 97.5% and RFS 97%, while in the high-risk patients 12%, 93% and 88%, respectively. Comparing the therapeutic modalities (staging lymphadenectomy vs. postoperative irradiation) in the high-risk group the cancer-related survival and RFS was not differed (P=0.70, P=0.90, respectively). The high grade of the tumor was significantly correlated with RFS, while age, stage and myometrial infiltration were not. No moderate or severe complications developed after lymphadenectomy, while two moderate gastrointestinal complications occurred after adjuvant radiotherapy. Conclusion: According our results the low-risk patients of early stage endometrial adenocarcinoma had excellent survival with minimal intervention. The cancer-related survival and RFS in high-risk patients concerning the therapeutic modalities were comparable. Poor tumor differentiation was the most unfavorable prognostic factor related with RFS. Moderate complications developed only after postoperative radiotherapy.     

盆腹腔淋巴取样术在子宫内膜癌手术中的临床意义

目的探讨盆腹腔淋巴取样术在子宫内膜癌的临床意义。方法分析2000年1月-2007年12月上海同济大学附属第一妇婴保健院手术治疗的213例子宫内膜癌患者,其中,86例行盆腹腔淋巴取样术,127例行淋巴结切除术。手术方式根据手术切除淋巴结的情况分为两组。①取样组：淋巴取样术,筋膜外全子宫双附件切除/次广泛子宫切除术＋盆腔/腹主动脉旁淋巴结取样术86例;②切除组：次广泛/广泛子宫切除术＋盆腔淋巴结切除/腹主动脉旁淋巴结切除术127例。结果取样组：切除淋巴结中位数18枚,淋巴结的转移10例。切除组：切除淋巴结中位数32枚,淋巴结转移11例。5年生存率分别为94.2%和94.5%。取样组无病发症发生,淋巴结切除组中有9例,分别是1例术中大出血（〉2000ml）,淋巴囊肿感染6例,淋巴漏2例。结论在子宫内膜癌中淋巴结取样术可准确了解淋巴结的转移情况,适宜手术分期,并不影响生存率,是避免过度手术减少并发症发生的有效方法。     

Lymphadenectomy in high risk endometrial carcinoma stage I and II: no more morbidity and no need for external pelvic radiation

Abstract. Berclaz G, Hänggi W, Kratzer-Berger A, Altermatt HJ, Greiner RH, Dreher E. Lymphadenectomy in high risk endometrial carcinoma stage I and II: no more morbidity and no need for external pelvic radiation.
The objectives of this retrospective study were to analyze the morbidity of surgical staging and to evaluate the omission of external radiotherapy in high-risk patients with stage I and II endometrial carcinoma when the lymph nodes were negative.
From 1988 to 1996, 63 of 117 patients underwent a pelvic and periaortic lymphadenectomy. The decision to perform lymphadenectomy was influenced by patient general health.
Patients with lymphadenectomy had a better physical status ( P < 0.0001). Lymphadenectomy increased mean operative time ( P < 0.0001) and blood loss ( P < 0.01), but there was no increase in postoperative complications. At a median follow-up of 54 months, there was one cuff recurrence in 56 patients. Nineteen high-risk patients without external pelvic radiation had the same disease-free survival rate as 37 low-risk patients ( P = 0.1). In the group without lymphadenectomy, the disease-free survival for 18 high-risk patients and 32 low-risk patients was similar ( P = 0.21).
Surgical staging in properly selected patients does not increase postoperative complications and brachytherapy without external radiotherapy is associated with excellent disease-free survival when the lymph nodes are negative.     

Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy versus abdominal hysterectomy in stage I endometrial cancer

Abstract. Fram KM. Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy versus abdominal hysterectomy in stage I endometrial cancer.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare laparoscopic treatment for stage I endometrial cancer with the traditional transabdominal approach. From July 1996 to July 1998, 61 patients with clinical stage I endometrial cancer were treated at the Gynaecology Oncology Unit at the Royal North Shore of Sydney, Australia. Twenty-nine patients were treated with laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy (BSO) ± laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy (LPLA), while 32 patients were treated with the traditional laparotomy and underwent total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) and BSO ± pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLA). The main outcomes studied were operative time, blood loss, blood transfusion, intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, duration of hospital stay, and number of lymph nodes obtained. In conclusion, laparoscopic treatment of endometrial cancer is safe in the hands of experienced operators with minimal intraoperative and postoperative complications. This procedure is associated with significantly less blood loss and shorter hospitalization; however, it is associated with significantly longer operating time. Proper selection of patients for the laparoscopic procedure is the vital step in achieving the major goals of this approach.     

Laparoscopy compared with laparotomy for the surgical staging of endometrial carcinoma

AIM: To evaluate and compare laparoscopic-assisted surgical staging with conventional laparotomy for the treatment of endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: From July 2001 to December 2003, a retrospective review of patients with endometrial carcinoma was carried out. The medical records of those patients who had undergone surgical staging with hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLN) were evaluated. Primary outcome measures were operating time (OT), estimated blood loss, total number of lymph nodes yielded, intraoperative complications, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay. RESULT: A total of 64 cases were identified. Two cases were excluded because of incomplete records. Two cases with para-aortic lymphadenectomy and four cases with Wertheim's hysterectomy were excluded from the study. Thirty-six patients underwent laparotomy with total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and PLN (laparotomy group). Twenty patients underwent the same surgery by laparoscopy, of which 19 were successfully carried out (laparoscopy group). One case was converted to laparotomy. The mean OT in the laparoscopy group was longer when compared with the laparotomy group (211 min vs 94 min, P < 0.001). The mean estimated blood loss in the laparoscopy group was less (200 mL vs 513 mL, P < 0.001). The post-operative hospital stay was shorter in the laparoscopy group (3.6 days vs 7.7 days, P < 0.001). The mean number of lymph nodes yielded was more in the laparoscopy group (26.1 vs 16.7, P = 0.004). Neither group had intraoperative complications and both had similar postoperative complication rates. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic-assisted surgical staging for endometrial carcinoma is associated with significantly less blood loss, shorter hospital stay, longer OT time, and more lymph nodes yielded when compared with laparotomy.     

子宫内膜癌淋巴结切除意义及指征

子宫内膜癌采用手术病理分期,然而是否对所有子宫内膜癌患者都行全面分期手术(全子宫切除术+双附件切除术+双侧盆腔淋巴结及腹主动脉旁淋巴结切除)争议广泛,尤其是对于早期子宫内膜癌患者淋巴结切除的价值值得探讨。文章回顾子宫内膜癌淋巴结切除的最新研究进展,进一步讨论淋巴结切除的意义及指征。     

Pelvic lymphadenectomy for cervical cancer: extraperitoneal versus laparoscopic approach

OBJECTIVE: To compare the extraperitoneal versus the laparoscopic technique in performing pelvic lymphadenectomy in a series of patients undergoing a radical vaginal hysterectomy for locally advanced cervical cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study with 42 patients undergoing a radical vaginal hysterectomy for cervical cancer. Patients from group A (20 patients) had a laparoscopic lymph node dissection and patients belonging to group B (22 patients) had an extraperitoneal lymphadenectomy. Historical data, clinical and surgical characteristics, perioperative and post-operative complications were analyzed. Follow-up was conducted according to the oncologic requirements. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of blood loss, post-operative pain, transfusions, hospital stay and post-operative hematomas. The extraperitoneal group (group B) significantly showed a reduced operating time, a greater number of nodes removed (p<0.05). The only lymphocyst occurred in group B. CONCLUSIONS: Extraperitoneal pelvic lymphadenectomy can be considered an adequate technique to complement radical vaginal operations for cervical cancer.     

Anatomical and pathological study of retroperitoneal nodes in endometrial cancer

Benedetti-Panici P, Maneschi F, Cutillo G, D'Andrea G, Manci N, Rabitti C, Scambia G, Mancuso S. Anatomical and pathological study of retroperitoneal nodes in endometrial cancer. Int J Gynecol Cancer 1998; 8 : 322–327.
To assess the patterns of lymphatic spread in endometrial carcinoma, data from 91 endometrial cancer patients (surgical FIGO stage I: 59; II: 12; III–IV: 20) who underwent systematic pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy were analyzed. The median number of nodes removed was 27 aortic (range 15–57) and 31 pelvic (range 20–68) nodes. Positive nodes were found in 16 patients (18%), seven having pelvic, one aortic, and eight both pelvic and aortic metastasis. The median number of positive nodes was three (range 1–29) aortic and two (range 1–18) pelvic nodes. Isolated pelvic node metastasis was observed in seven patients and aortic metastasis in one patient.
Pre-paracaval, pre-paraortic and intercavoaortic, with superficial obturator, external iliac and common iliac were the node groups most frequently involved. These nodes may be considered primarily invaded by the tumor. The higher prevalence of pelvic with respect to aortic metastasis, and the low risk of isolated aortic spread, suggest that endometrial cancer spreads preferentially to the pelvic area. Multivariate analysis showed that depth of myoinvasion and adnexal metastasis were independent factors predicting the risk of lymphatic spread. The risk of aortic spread was also predicted by the pelvic node status. These data may be useful for tailoring lymphadenectomy.     

子宫内膜癌高危型患者术前、术中病情评估准确性探讨

目的分析术后病理确诊的高危型子宫内膜癌患者术前和术中诊断的准确性。方法回顾性分析北京大学第三医院1994年～2006年间高危型子宫内膜样癌患者的临床资料，比较术前诊刮结果、术中医生肉眼对肌层浸润的判断与最终病理结果间的异同，分析高危患者术中术前漏诊和误诊的比率，以及诊断的准确率。结果201例子宫内膜癌患者中52例（25．9％）为高危型。其中39例患者为高危组织学类型，术前刮宫诊断符合率为56．4％（22／39）。23例患者存在深肌层浸润，术中肉眼对深肌层浸润判断的准确率为47．8％（11／23）。201例患者中35例术前判断宫颈受累，其中只有10例（28．6％）在术后病理中得到证实。52例患者中术前术中诊断为中低危型的比率为30．8％（16／52）。201例研究对象中对高危患者诊断的敏感性和特异性分别为69．2％（36／52）与89．9％（134／149）。结论高危型子宫内膜样癌患者其如何提高术前及术中病情评估准确性有待探讨。术前诊刮和术中的诊断与其最终的病理检查间存在较高的不一致性。     

腹主动脉旁淋巴结切除术在子宫内膜癌治疗中的临床意义

目的探讨子宫内膜癌患者腹主动脉旁淋巴结切除范围及其临床意义。方法回顾四川大学华西第二医院709例患者的临床-病理资料,随访217例行腹主动脉旁淋巴结切除患者的生存情况。结果多因素分析发现：淋巴脉管浸润及盆腔淋巴结转移是发生腹主动脉旁淋巴结转移的独立高危因素（P〈0.05）。腹主动脉旁淋巴结取样组,切除至肠系膜下血管水平组以及肾血管水平组术后10月生存率分别为：98.6%,94.3%和100.0%。结论中低分化、淋巴脉管转移、特殊病理类型、以及晚期子宫内膜癌患者建议切除腹主动脉旁淋巴结,其切除范围应至肾血管水平。