Evaluation of peripheral nodal recurrence in patients with endometrial cancer

To evaluate the clinico-pathological patient features, prognostic factors, treatment options and outcomes of peripheral nodal recurrence (PNR) of endometrial cancer (EC).

The data of nine patients with PNR of EC from two institutions were reviewed. The electronic literature was reviewed from 1972 to May 2018 to identify articles about PNR in EC. Finally, 42 cases were evaluated.

Nineteen (45.2%) patients were initially diagnosed with either stage I or II disease, whereas 20 (47.7%) patients had stage III or IV disease while the stages were not reported in three (7.1%). PNR developed as the first recurrence in 40 (95.2%) patients and as the second recurrence in 2 (4.8%) patients. Isolated PNR appeared in 35 (83.3%). Seven (16.7%) had PNR coexisting with multiple other sites of tumoral involvement. In the entire cohort, the 5-year and 10-year post-recurrence survival (PRS) were both 78%. Only the presence of distant hematogenous metastasis concurrent with PNR was significantly related to poor PRS (p=0.005). Among patients with isolated PNR, those who had surgery had 30% greater 5-year PRS than those treated without surgery, but this difference was not significant (80% vs 50%; p>0.05).

A concurrent distant hematogenous metastasis was the only factor related to poor survival. A wide range of therapies exists for PNR but none of the therapies appear to be more advantageous than another. However, surgery as a component of treatment can render a survival advantage for patients who have isolated PNR.