Vaginal recurrence of endometrial carcinoma

Abstract

A 10 year study at the Mayo Clinic showed a direct relationship between depth of myometrial invasion of endometrial carcinoma and both incidena of myometrial lymphatic involvement and rate of posthysterectomy vaginal recurrence. Low-grade lesions tended to recur at the vault: high-grade lesion tended to recur more rapidly and in locations other than the vault. Prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment can lead to 5 year survival in 50 per cent of patients with vaginal recurrences. Since those cases of endometrial carcinoma, regardless of grade, in which myometrial invasion extends 5.0 mm. or more (or in which there is extension to the isthmtuS or below) account for most of these recurrences, the use of prophylactic postoperative intravaginal radiation therapy may be benificial.