The role of pelvic and para‐aortic lymph node dissection in the surgical treatment of endometrial cancer: a view from the USA

Abstract

Intraoperative tumour diameter measurement in endometrial cancer is useful for identifying women at extremely low risk of lymph node invasion. Surgical staging in endometrial cancer is instrumental for defining the need for and extent of postoperative therapy, thus avoiding over‐ and undertreatment. Adequate surgical staging in endometrial cancer includes bilateral pelvic and para‐aortic lymphadenectomy extending to renal vessels. Learning objectives: To define diagnostic and possible therapeutic roles of systematic surgical staging in endometrial cancer. To define anatomical borders of adequate surgical staging in endometrial cancer. Ethical issues: How can over‐ and undertreatment of endometrial cancer be avoided? Please cite this article as: Mariani A, Dowdy S, Podratz K. The role of pelvic and para‐aortic lymph node dissection in the surgical treatment of endometrial cancer: a view from the USA. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2009;11:199–204.