Analysis of vaginal recurrences in stage I endometrial adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk of vaginal recurrence in Stage 1 endometrial cancer and treatment morbidity associated with different therapeutic approaches MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1995 and 2005, 341 patients with clinical Stage I endometrial cancer were treated at Istanbul Medical Faculty. One hundred and forty-four women were included in this study as the follow-ups and records were complete. The patients with no myometrial invasion received no further therapy following hysterectomy. When there was superficial myometrial invasion postoperative vaginal vault radiation was used, and if deep myometrial invasion was present, external pelvic radiation was given. RESULTS: Overall 5-year survival rate for all patients with Stage I disease was 80%. Nine patients (6.25%) developed recurrent disease, three of whom had vaginal recurrences. All three vaginal recurrences were small and diagnosed at routine follow-up exam within 51 months of primary therapy. CONCLUSION: This selective treatment protocol for patients with Stage I endometrial cancer avoided radiation entirely in 38% of the patients while achieving a very low rate of vaginal recurrence and good overall survival.