Lymphography in the initial evaluation of endometrial carcinoma

Two hundred eighty-eight patients with endometrial carcinoma underwent a bipedal lymphography. The proportion of positive lymphangiograms is related to the clinical stage, the histologic grade, and the depth of myometrial invasion. Lymphography is not a significant predictor of survival taking into account the other prognostic factors. A histological examination of the lymph nodes was carried out for 138 patients. Lymphography is not very sensitive but is highly specific, detecting only 50% of metastases with a false positive rate that is too high. It therefore is of little diagnostic and prognostic value for operable patients. It is, however, useful for the followup of lymph nodes of patients treated by radiation therapy.