Clinical value of pelvic lymphadenectomy in surgical treatment of endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was the clinical analysis of value of pelvic lymphadenectomy in surgical treatment of endometrial carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The group of 420 women treated for of endometrial cancer in stage IA-IV by FIGO 1988 was analysed. All these women were operated in 2nd Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical University of Gdańsk between 1981-2000. The subgroup of patients with pelvic lymphadenectomy was selected. The data were obtained from case histories. RESULTS: The subgroup of patients on whom pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed was up 32.6% of all treated women (137 women). Neoplastic metastases were found in 27 cases (19.7%). All those patients were in clinical stage II-IV by FIGO 1988, and no earlier stage of endometrial cancer was found in that group. In every case myometrial invasion was more then 1/2 of myometrium. In 59.2% of neoplastic metastases high or medium differential adenocarcinoma were found. CONCLUSION: Pelvic lymphadenectomy has to be part of surgical treatment of endometrial cancer. Lymph nodes metastases are important prognostic factors. Myometrial invasion plays an important role as a risk factor of lymph nodes metastases.