Laparoscopic surgery does not increase the positive peritoneal cytology among women with endometrial carcinoma

The purpose of our study was to find if uterine manipulation at the time of laparoscopic hysterectomy among women with endometrial carcinoma increases the incidence of malignant cells in the peritoneal washings.

We conducted a prospective study including women with clinical stage I endometrioid endometrial carcinoma undergoing laparoscopic surgery between 07/01/2000 and 07/01/2004. Surgery on all patients was conducted by the same surgeon using the same technique and instruments. Two sets of peritoneal washings were obtained, one before and one after the insertion of the Pelosi uterine manipulator. The two sets of washings were blindly reviewed by the same cytopathologist for the presence of malignant cells. Correlation was made between the two sets of washings.

Forty-two consecutive women (age 46-90, median: 58) were enrolled in the study. The procedure was converted to laparotomy in 3 (7.6%) patients after obtaining the two sets of washings. The preoperative tumor grades were: G1: 22 (52.4%), G2: 12 (28.6%), and G3: 8 (19.0). The incidence of positive peritoneal washings was 14.3%. All patients underwent laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, 30 patients had bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy, and 5 patients had bilateral pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. There was perfect agreement between the two sets of washings in all patients (100%, P < .001). No patients had positive washings after the insertion of the uterine manipulator if the washings were negative before the insertion. The surgical stages were: IA: 14 (33.3%), IB: 12 (28.6%), IC: 7 (16.7%), IIA: 1 (2.4%), IIB: 1 (2.4%), IIIA: 4 (9.5%), IIIB: 1 (2.4%), IIIC: 1 (2.4%), and IV: 1 (2.4%). Twenty-nine patients received no postoperative treatment, 2 received chemotherapy, 3 received Megace, and 9 received radiation therapy. Patients were followed-up for 7-56 months (median: 28). Two patients had tumor recurrence, and one patient died secondary to her disease. Two other patients died secondary to other causes.

We conclude that uterine manipulation at the time of laparoscopic hysterectomy does not increase the incidence of positive peritoneal cytology among women with endometrial carcinoma.