[Recurrence of endometrial cancer after surgical treatment]

The purpose of the research was to analyze the frequency and location of endometrial cancer recurrence in a group of women who underwent surgery due to neoplasm and frequency of relaparotomy because of the neoplasm recurrence.

292 women underwent operation in Dept. of Gynecology at Medical University of Gdansk due to endometrial cancer in clinical stage IA-IV by FIGO 1988 in the years of 1981-1996. All materials were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 97. The information was gathered from the following sources: case histories Dept.of Gynecology and Dept. of Oncology and Radiotherapy Medical University of Gdansk, case histories from Dept.of Radiotherapy Marine Hospital in Gdynia-Redlowo and questionnaires sent to patients.

The mentioned above group of 292 women underwent surgery. As far as 233 instances (79.8%) are concerned, only hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy was used, in 23 situations (7.9%)--also the lymph nodes biopsy was performed whereas in 10 cases (3.4%)--appendectomy and/or omentectomy. 24 women (8.2%) underwent Wertheim-Meigs operation and only 2 patients (0.7%)--with vaginal hysterectomy. 138 women were chosen to take part in the next stage of treatment. The regression of neoplasm illness was discovered among 13 patients (4.5%) with the apex of vagina being the most common place. The result comprised of 6 women--46.1% of all recurrences. All regressions happened 1-2 years after surgery. 5-year-survival for patients with regression was 23.1% which is 3 women. Relaparotomy due to neoplasm illness took part in 9 situations (3.1%). The danger of fatality grew up to 16 month after first surgical treatment; after this period of time the risk of dying went down.

The recurrence of endometrial cancer can be observed among small group of patients (4.5%). When we concentrate the patients with regression of neoplasm disease, we can observe a high rate of fatality.