Computed tomography in the evaluation and treatment of endometrial carcinoma

Since patients with endometrial carcinoma tend to be elderly, diabetic and hypertensive, individualization of treatment is very important. The therapy for each patient with endometrial carcinoma should be individualized and determined by the stage and factors predisposing to extrauterine spread of the tumor. Such risk factors include the grade of the tumor and depth of myometrial invasion. Unfortunately, staging based on pelvic examination is inaccurate in endometrial carcinoma and the depth of myometrial invasion cannot be assessed preoperatively. In order to assess its uses in the staging and treatment planning of endometrial cancer, CT was performed in 28 previously untreated patients with endometrial cancer. Twenty patients subsequently underwent surgery and the CT findings were correlated with the surgical and pathologic findings. CT proved to be useful in determining the depth of myometrial invasion and whether cervical involvement is present or not. Such information provided by CT helps to plan treatment more adequately and accurately for the individual patients.