[Stage I and II endometrial adenocarcinomas. Prognostic value of lymph node invasion]

In our institution endometrial carcinomas stage I and II were treated with uterovaginal brachytherapy and radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy. We have studied in a retrospective analysis the results of the lymphadenectomy in order to precise his place in the treatment strategy. Between 1976 and 1986, 155 patients were treated these modalities (107 were stage I, 48 were stage II). The mean age was 60.2 years. Brachytherapy delivered 60 Gy and then radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed. 26 patients received a pelvic external beam irradiation on account of lymph node involvement and or deep tumor invasion into the myometrium. 14 patients (9%) had a lymph node involvement. External iliac lymph nodes were involved in 78.5% of these cases. Lymph node involvement rate was higher for stage II, grade 3 tumors and when there was a deep tumor invasion into the myometrium. Pelvic failure rate was 12% for N- patients and 36% for N+ patients. Five years actuarial survival rate was 83% for N- and 41% for N+ patients. Now, we carry out a pelvic external radiotherapy for all stage II, grade 2 or 3 patients and when there is a deep tumor invasion into the myometrium and we do not perform lymphadenectomy for these patients. We perform only external iliac sample for patients with stage I grade 1 tumour without deep tumour invasion.