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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
An Orthotopic Endometrial Cancer Model with Retroperitoneal Lymphadenopathy Made From In Vivo Propagated and Cultured VX2 Cells
Published on: September 12, 2019
Routine pelvic lymphadenectomy in apparently early stage endometrial cancer
L D Zuurendonk1, R A Smit, B W J Mol
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Elisabeth Hospital Tilburg, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Aims:
Controversial issues with respect to the treatment of patients with endometrial cancer include indications for lymphadenectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy.
Patient And Methods:
Between 1998 and 2004 all women with endometrial cancer stage I were included (n = 335). They all underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oöphorectomy. Two hundred and thirty-seven women also had a pelvic lymphadenectomy. When pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed, radiotherapy was administered only to patients with lymph-node metastases. Otherwise, adjuvant radiotherapy was based on the presence of risk factors.
Results:
Eleven patients had lymph-node metastases. The overall absolute and relative survival-estimate at 5 years was 85.0 and 93.7%, respectively. Loco-regional recurrence was 8.5%. In the group with pelvic lymphadenectomy and negative lymph nodes these rates were 88.2, 93.9 and 5.6%, respectively. In 58 patients without any of the risk factors tumour grade III, deep myometrial invasion, or age > or =60 years, no lymph-node metastases were found.
Conclusion:
In patients with endometrial cancer FIGO stage I without risk-factors, a phenomenon which occurs in about 25% of patients with clinical stage I endometrial cancer, a lymphadenectomy can be omitted. In other patients, the debate regarding the optimal treatment will remain.
