Stage II endometrial carcinoma. Results and complications of a combined radiotherapeutic-surgical approach

Cancer. 1988 Apr 15;61(8):1528-34. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19880415)61:8<1528::aid-cncr2820610808>3.0.co;2-9.

Abstract

Since one third of the patients with Stage II endometrial carcinoma have occult extrauterine pelvic metastases at diagnosis, adequate treatment must include the pelvic lymph nodes and parametria. Eighty-three patients with Stage II endometrial carcinoma were treated between January 1964 and December 1983. Sixty-nine patients (83%) received combined whole-pelvic irradiation and surgery, five (6%) had surgery alone and nine (11%) had radiotherapy alone. Five-year actuarial survival rates were 67%, 60%, and 38%, respectively. No pelvic recurrence occurred in the 69 patients who received the combined therapy, and there was no vaginal recurrence in the 80 patients treated with intracavity radium. There was a significantly lower incidence of pelvic lymph node metastases (P = 0.03) in patients treated with preoperative irradiation. The median time to recurrence was 17 months, with 67% of the recurrences diagnosed before 2 years, and 88% within 5 years. Ten patients (12%) incurred severe complications and three died as a result. Whole-pelvic irradiation, intracavity radium, and hysterectomy are effective treatment for occult pelvic and vaginal disease.

MeSH terms

  • Brachytherapy
  • Carcinoma / radiotherapy
  • Carcinoma / surgery
  • Carcinoma / therapy*
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hysterectomy / methods
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Radioisotope Teletherapy
  • Uterine Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Uterine Neoplasms / surgery
  • Uterine Neoplasms / therapy*