Is it safe to operate selected low-risk endometrial cancer patients in secondary hospitals?

Abstract

IntroductionThe aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of a preoperative screening algorithm in identifying low-risk endometrial cancer (EC) patients to ensure optimal care. MethodsA total of 277 patients with primary EC confirmed through biopsy underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients with risk factors for advanced high-risk EC, such as non-endometrioid histology, high-grade differentiation status, deep myometrial invasion, or spread beyond the uterine corpus, were systematically excluded. The remaining preoperatively screened patients with stage IA low-grade endometrioid EC (EEC) (n = 93) underwent surgery in a tertiary hospital. The accuracy of the preoperative diagnosis was evaluated by comparing the findings with the postoperative histopathological results. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using 8-year follow-up data. ResultsPostoperative histopathological analysis revealed that all patients had grade 1–2 EEC localized to the corpus uteri. Only three patients had deep myometrial invasion (stage IB), but they remained disease-free after 6–9 years of follow-up. The median follow-up time for all patients was 8.7 years. The DFS was 7.6 years, and the OS was 8.6 years. Two patients with stage IA grade 1 EEC experienced relapse and, despite treatment, died of EC. No other EC-related deaths occurred. ConclusionsThe screening algorithm accurately identified low-risk EC patients without compromising survival. Therefore, the algorithm appears to be feasible for selecting patients for surgery in secondary hospitals.