Para-aortic Lymphadenectomy In Endometrial Cancer Research Articles

Robot-assisted Surgery with Para-aortic Lymphadenectomy for Endometrial Cancer: A Preliminary Report.

There are few reported cases of robot-assisted surgery for endometrial cancer with para-aortic lymphadenectomy (PAL) in Japan. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the clinical outcomes of robot-assisted surgery with PAL for endometrial cancer. This retrospective cohort study was analyzed 13 endometrial cancer patients who underwent robotic surgery with PAL between January 2011 and October 2018 at our hospital. We examined their perioperative complications and oncological outcomes. The median follow-up period, median overall survival, and disease-free interval were 80 months, 79 months (61-120), and 79 months (5-120), respectively. There were two (15.3%) cases of perioperative complications of Clavien-Dindo Class II or higher and three (23.0%) cases of recurrence. Our results showed that the surgical and oncological outcomes of robot-assisted surgery for endometrial cancer with PAL were comparable with those of other developed countries.

Implications of Isolated Para-Aortic Lymph Node Metastasis in Endometrial Cancer: A Large-Scale, Multicenter, and Retrospective Study

Objective: To systematically evaluate lymph node metastasis (LNM) patterns in patients with endometrial cancer (EC) who underwent complete surgical staging, which included systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy.Methods: Four thousand and one patients who underwent complete surgical staging including systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy for EC were enrolled from 30 centers in China from 2001 to 2019. We systematically displayed the clinical and prognostic characteristics of patients with various LNM patterns, especially the PLN-PAN+ [para-aortic lymph node (PAN) metastasis without pelvic lymph node (PLN) metastasis]. The efficacy of PAN+ (para-aortic lymph node metastasis) prediction with clinical and pathological features was evaluated.Results: Overall, 431 of the 4,001 patients (10.8%) showed definite LNM according to pathological diagnosis. The PAN+ showed the highest frequency (6.6%) among all metastatic sites. One hundred fourteen cases (26.5%) were PLN-PAN+ (PAN metastasis without PLN metastasis), 167 cases (38.7%) showed PLN+PAN-(PLN metastasis without PAN metastasis), and 150 cases (34.8%) showed metastasis to both regions (PLN+PAN+). There was also 1.9% (51/2,660) of low-risk patients who had PLN-PAN+. There are no statistical differences in relapse-free survival (RFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) among PLN+PAN-, PLN-PAN+, and PLN+PAN+. The sensitivity of gross PLNs, gross PANs, and lymphovascular space involvement (LVSI) to predict PAN+ was 53.8 [95% confidence interval (CI): 47.6–59.9], 74.2 95% CI: 65.6–81.4), and 45.8% (95% CI: 38.7–53.2), respectively.Conclusion: Over one-fourth of EC patients with LMN metastases were PLN-PAN+. PLN-PAN+ shares approximate survival outcomes (RFS and DSS) with other LNM patterns. No effective clinical methods were achieved for predicting PAN+. Thus, PLN-PAN+ is a non-negligible LNM pattern that cannot be underestimated in EC, even in low-risk patients.

Prospective Non-randomized Control Trial on Role of Systematic High Para-Aortic Lymphadenectomy in Endometrial Cancer: Indian Study

Endometrial cancer (EC) accounts for approximately 10% of all cancers in females and is the second most common gynecologic cancer. The primary goal of surgical staging in EC is to identify extrauterine disease. Pelvic and para-aortic lymph node dissection (PLND and PaLND) is the gold standard in the detection of lymph node metastases in EC. However, there is still no uniformity worldwide regarding the scope and extent of lymph node dissection in EC. The present prospective non-randomized study was conducted to establish the importance of systematic lymphadenectomy (LND), especially PaLND above the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA), and to identify the risk factors associated with lymph node metastasis. A total of 210 patients with EC were included. All patients underwent comprehensive surgical staging which included simultaneous PLND and PaLND. In addition for non-endometrioid, additional omental and peritoneal biopsies were also performed. PLND consisted of complete removal of common iliac, external iliac, internal iliac and obturator lymph nodes as per standard techniques. The extent of PaLND was up to the renal veins. Pelvic lymph nodes (PLN), para-aortic lymph nodes (PaLN) harvested below the IMA and PaLN dissected above the IMA were labeled separately and submitted for histopathological examination (HPE). Patient’s demographic factors, surgical outcomes and tumor histological findings were tabulated for analysis. Patients diagnosed with EC were most commonly in their seventh decade (59.5%). The mean time for LND was 35 min. In 66% of the cases with positive PLN, the PaLN was also positive. Twenty-nine (13.8%) patients had both PLN and PaLN involvement. In all cases of positive PaLN, the nodes between IMA and renal veins were the only positive nodes. In 15 (7.1%) patients, PaLN were the only positive nodes. The mean PaLN yield was 9.1. Predictors of PaLN positivity were pelvic node positivity, Grade III tumors and lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI). Major complications observed were wound infection, paralytic ileus and subacute intestinal obstruction. In oncology, a good loco-regional control has the greatest impact on survival. Systematic para-aortic lymphadenectomy done with good surgical technique results in minimal morbidity and mortality without any additional blood transfusion requirement. The trend toward greater use of complete surgical staging has been accompanied by a judicious use of adjuvant therapy. This has led to marked decrease in the use of pelvic radiation therapy and its complications and has a significant impact on the cost of treatment.

Comparison Between Laparoscopy and Laparotomy in Systematic Para-Aortic Lymphadenectomy for Patients with Endometrial Cancer: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Objective: Laparoscopic surgery has been developed worldwide due to its minimal invasion as well as noninferiority, compared with laparotomy. However, whether or not laparoscopic systematic para-aortic lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer is feasible and has advantages of various clinical factors, such as a short hospital stay, less blood loss, and faster recovery, compared with open surgery has not yet been clarified. The aim of this study was to compare a laparoscopic procedure with laparotomy for para-aortic lymphadenectomy for patients with endometrial cancer.Study Design: This was a retrospective multicenter study of laparoscopic systematic para-aortic lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer in five institutions.Materials and Methods: The current authors conducted a retrospective multicenter study of laparoscopic systematic para-aortic lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer. The study involved patients from five institutions in Japan between January 2008 and March 2016. Clinical data were compared with those of a laparotomic procedure performed around the same period.Results: A total of 54 patients in the laparoscopic group and 99 patients in the laparotomic group were analyzed. In the laparoscopic group, 21 patients had stage IA disease, 19 had stage IB disease, 5 had stage II disease, and 9 had stage III disease. In the laparotomic group, 35 patients had stage IA disease, 19 had stage IB disease, 9 had stage II disease, and 36 had stage III disease. There were no significant differences in characteristics between the groups, including age, body mass index, and histologic type. The mean operative time in the laparoscopic group was 483 ± 102 minutes, while that in the laparotomic group was 481 ± 106 minutes (p = 0.9). The laparoscopic group had less intraoperative blood loss (143 ± 253 versus 988 ± 694 mL; p < 0.01) and shorter hospital stays (8.4 ± 5.7 versus 16.1 ± 8.0 days; p < 0.01). The rates of intraoperative complications were not significantly different between the groups. No cases of ileus occurred in the laparoscopic group. Procedures for 2 of the 54 patients in the laparoscopic group were converted to laparotomy. The number of dissected pelvic lymph nodes (31.8 ± 10.1 versus 39.9 ± 15.9, p < 0.01) and para-aortic lymph nodes (26.2 ± 10.9 versus 31.1 ± 13.2; p = 0.02) were lower in the laparoscopic group than in the laparotomic group. The postoperative minimum level of hemoglobin was higher in the laparoscopic group than in the laparotomic group (10.4 ± 1.1 g/dL versus 9.9 ± 1.4 g/dL; p = 0.02). In contrast, the postoperative maximum level of C-reactive protein was lower in the laparoscopic group than in the laparotomic group (6.3 ± 3.8 mg/dL versus 10.2 ± 4.9 mg/dL; p < 0.01). The recurrence rate was not significantly different between the groups in the above time period (7.4% versus 14.3%; p = 0.2).Conclusions: Laparoscopic systematic para-aortic lymphadenectomy is feasible and can be substituted for laparotomic procedures for patients with early stage endometrial cancer. ( J GYNECOL SURG 33:105)

Impact of paraaortic lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer with positive pelvic lymph nodes: A Korean Radiation Oncology Group study (KROG 13-17)

AimWe investigated the role of paraaortic lymph node dissection (PALND) in patients with stage IIIC1 endometrial carcinoma after surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) alone or chemoradiotherapy (CTRT). MethodsWe performed a subgroup analysis in 151 patients treated with adjuvant pelvic RT. Paraaortic-recurrence free survival, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. ResultsIn adjuvant RT alone, PALND was significantly related to reduced risk of paraaortic recurrence (0% vs. 17.1%) and distant metastasis (4.5% vs. 19.5%) compared with the no PALND group. PALND affected 5-year DFS (90.2% vs. 58.9%, p = 0.016) and OS (100% vs. 83.1%, p = 0.022). For the CTRT group, the paraaortic recurrence rate was 19.5% for the no PALND group and 12.8% for the PALND group (p = 0.682). Of patients who underwent PALND in the CTRT group, less extensive PALND was significantly related to increased paraaortic recurrence (≤10 vs. >10 dissected LNs, 17.1% vs. 0%). In the no PALND group (n = 82), 5-year paraaortic-recurrence free survival was 79.4% for the CTRT group and 76.2% for the RT alone group (p = 0.941). In multivariate analysis, PALND was significantly associated with reduced risk of disease-specific death (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.26–0.96; p = 0.037). ConclusionPALND provided excellent paraaortic control and improved outcome in stage IIIC1 endometrial cancer with favorable tumor features treated with adjuvant RT alone. Less extensive PALND was associated with significantly increased paraaortic recurrence in patients with advanced tumor features treated with adjuvant CTRT. Combined CTRT did not affect disease control in the paraaortic region compared with RT alone.

Robotic-Assisted Pelvic and High Para-aortic Lymphadenectomy (RPLND) for Endometrial Cancer and Learning Curve

The present prospective non-randomized observational study was designed to analyse the learning curve for robotic-assisted pelvic and high para-aortic lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer patients. Between 2011 and 2013, 131 consecutive endometrial cancer patients underwent type-1 extrafascial pan hysterectomy with pelvic and high para-aortic lymphadenectomy using the daVinci® robotic surgical procedures at single quaternary care Indian cancer institution. For lymph nodes retrieval data, the point at which as per AJCC-TNM staging, time taken to reach, recommended minimum number of lymph nodes at each segment of pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy was plotted and analysed. Data were analysed for the number of lymph nodes retrieved in pelvic and high para-aortic lymphadenectomy specimen. The surgery was performed by the same surgeon in all cases. Target number of pelvic lymph nodes 12 was achieved by ninth case, and consistently, more number of pelvic nodes were removed. Target number of para-aortic lymph nodes 10 was achieved at eighteenth case. In our study, adequate number of pelvic lymph nodes retrieval of 12 was achieved by ninth case, and consistently, more number of pelvic nodes were removed and para-aortic lymph nodes retrieval of 10 was after eighteenth case. Our study confirms the proficiency and efficiency of robotic surgical approach in treatment of endometrial cancer, with adequate lymph node retrieval, and offers a safe and useful alternative to conventional surgical techniques with shorter learning curve.

Robotic infrarenal paraaortic and pelvic nodal staging for endometrial cancer: feasibility and lymphatic complications.

This study was designed to evaluate the feasibility and lymphatic complications of robotic pelvic and infrarenal paraaortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer patients. All patients diagnosed with high risk endometrial cancer during the study period were identified (n = 212). Clinical prospective data, with reassessment of lymphatic complications, was analysed for all cases (n = 140) planned for a complete robotic nodal staging. The outcome measures were: success rate of infrarenal paraaortic lymphadenectomy, the rate of lymphatic complications and factors associated with nodal yield. Of the 212 women, an open or restricted robotic procedure was performed in 57 women (27%) and no operation in 15 (7%), the latter due to disseminated disease or comorbidity. In 140 women (66%) in whom staging was intended, the lymphadenectomy included the infrarenal area in 70%, was restricted to the inframesenteric area in 21% and aborted or incomplete in 9%. The median number of paraaortic nodes was 10 (range 2-39). An unsuccessful staging was associated with high BMI and the surgeon's inexperience. At 1 year, three patients (2%) had developed a grade two lower limb lymphedema. Eleven women (8%) demonstrated pelvic lymphocysts; seven (64%) resolved spontaneously. Only one paraaortic lymphocyst was found; this required drainage. No cases of chylous ascites occurred. An infrarenal robotic paraaortic lymphadenectomy is feasible in 70% of high risk endometrial cancer cases when intended (88% in non-obese patients operated by experienced surgeons), but is restricted in obese patients and by surgeon's inexperience.

Distribution of Lymph Node Metastasis Sites in Endometrial Cancer Undergoing Systematic Pelvic and Para-Aortic Lymphadenectomy: A Proposal of Optimal Lymphadenectomy for Future Clinical Trials

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the precise mapping of lymph node metastasis (LNM) sites in endometrial cancer. A total of 266 patients who underwent primary radical surgery including systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer from 1993 to 2010 were enrolled in this study. We removed lymph nodes from the femoral ring to the para-aortic node up to the level of renal veins. We analyzed the distribution of positive-node sites according to their anatomical location. Overall, 42 of 266 patients (15.8%) showed LNM. The median number of nodes harvested was 62.5 (range 40-119) in pelvic nodes (PLN), and 20 (range 3-47) in para-aortic nodes (PAN). Among 42 cases with positive-nodes, 16 cases (38.1%) showed positive PLN alone, 7 cases (16.7%) in PAN alone, and 19 cases (45.2%) in both PLN and PAN. The most prevalent site of positive-nodes was PAN (9.8%) followed by obturator nodes (9.4%), internal iliac nodes (7.1%), and common iliac nodes (5.6%). Six of 19 cases (31.6%) of positive PAN above the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) showed negative PAN below IMA. Metastasis to the deep inguinal nodes was found to be extremely rare (0.38%). Single-site LNM was the most frequently observed in obturator nodes, followed by PAN above IMA. Routine resection of deep inguinal nodes is not recommended, whereas para-aortic lymphadenectomy should be extended up to the level of renal veins for endometrial cancer.

The risk and pattern of pelvic and para aortic lymph nodal metastasis in patients with intermediate and high risk endometrial cancer.

There is a continuous debate about the extent and prognostic value of retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer. Systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer provides a more accurate assessment of neoplastic spread and may help in better individualization of patients for adjuvant therapy. To evaluate the risk and pattern of retroperitoneal lymph nodes metastasis in patients with endometrial cancers having intermediate and high risk factors for nodal metastasis and recurrence. We conducted a prospective nonrandomized study of 62 cases of high risk endometrial cancers examined and treated at our regional cancer institute between the years 2008 and 2012. The inclusion criteria: The intermediate risk; all patients having grade 3 or undifferentiated adenocarcinomas with less than half MI and the grade 1, 2 tumors having more than half MI with tumor size >2cm. The high risk group; all the patients having grade 3 or undifferentiated adenocarcinomas with more than half MI, the grade 1, 2 tumors with lymph vascular space invasion (LVSI) or cervical stromal invasion as depicted by pre-operative MRI. The type 2 histology uterine papillary serous, clear cell and squamous cell carcinomas. The patients staging was carried out according to the classification established by the FIGO for endometrial cancer in 2009. The Chi-square test was used to analyze the correlation between tumor grade, myometrial invasion, size of the lesion and lymph nodes metastasis and Fisher's correction done whenever the frequency distribution was less than five. The patients mean age was 58.3 (range 31 to 76years). A total of 118 endometrial cancer patients were treated during the study period. The 56 (47.5%) patients belonged to low risk and 62 (52.5%) patients belonged to high risk endometrial cancers. The 52 of 62 cases were eligible for the analysis. The 10 patients' were excluded from further analysis as the post operative specimens final histopathologic examinations in nine cases revealed carcinosarcoma uterus and one case with yolk sac tumor of endometrium. The total 17(32.7%) of 52 cases had retroperitoneal nodes metastasis; nine of 17 (52.9%) in this group had both pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodal metastasis and one of 17 (5.9%) had isolated para-aortic lymph nodal metastasis. The high grade tumors (grade 3) revealed 41.4% pelvic and 20.7% para-aortic lymph nodes metastasis and there was statistically significant higher nodal metastasis in both pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes with increasing depth of myometrial invasion (P = 0.0119 and P = 0.0001) and increasing size of the lesion. (P = 0.04 and P = 0.0501). The intermediate and high risk endometrial cancer is associated with greater degree of lymph node metastasis. A complete surgical staging which involves extrafascial hysterectomy or a type 3 radical hysterectomy when there is a cervical involvement, along with bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy, pelvic, para-aortic lymphadenectomy and an omentectomy when indicated as in the present study, is a valuable modality of treatment in intermediate and high risk cases of endometrial cancers for determining the prognosis and appropriate categorization of these women for adjuvant therapy. It is also possible to achieve a complete surgical staging in these groups of women with acceptable morbidity when performed by a trained gynaecologic oncologist.

Role of pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer: current evidence.

The aim of the present review is to summarize the current evidence on the role of pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer. In 1988, the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommended surgical staging for endometrial cancer patients. However, 25 years later, the role of lymph node dissection remains controversial. Although the findings of two large independent randomized trials suggested that pelvic lymphadenectomy provides only adjunctive morbidity with no clear influence on survival outcomes, the studies have many pitfalls that limit interpretation of the results. Theoretically, lymphadenectomy may help identify patients with metastatic dissemination, who may benefit from adjuvant therapy, thus reducing radiation-related morbidity. Also, lymphadenectomy may eradicate metastatic disease. Because lymphatic spread is relatively uncommon, our main effort should be directed at identifying patients who may potentially benefit from lymph node dissection, thus reducing the rate of unnecessary treatment and associated morbidity. This review will discuss the role of lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer, focusing on patient selection, extension of the surgical procedure, postoperative outcomes, quality of life and costs. The need for new surgical studies and efficacious systemic drugs is recommended.

Recent advances in research on epigenetic alterations and clinical significance of para-aortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer: an introduction

Endometrial cancer is the most frequent cancer of the female reproductive organs in industrialized countries. In 2012, the numbers of new cases and deaths from endometrial cancer in the US were estimated to be 47,130 and 8,010, respectively [1]. The incidence of endometrial cancer is also increasing steadily in Japan, where the estimated number of new cases in 2007 was 9,104 [2] and the number of deaths in 2011 was 2,034 [3]. Endometrial cancer is a surgically staged disease and post-operative therapy is offered to patients with a high risk of recurrence according to the extent and aggressiveness of the tumor. Current topics in endometrial cancer include: the therapeutic significance of lymphadenectomy, the role of epigenetic alterations, and revision of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging criteria (FIGO 2008) for this disease. There was a paradigm shift in the treatment strategy for endometrial cancer after the introduction of a surgical staging system (FIGO 1988) that replaced the older clinical staging system. The newer paradigms of extended-surgical staging containing lymphadenectomy with more restricted use of adjuvant therapy and the older paradigm of simple hysterectomy bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with more frequent use of adjuvant radiotherapy need to be compared prospectively in terms of survival benefits, quality of life, and cost of treatment [4]. Several issues regarding surgical staging need to be clarified. They include: how should suitable patients for complete lymphadenectomy be selected and what is the optimal extent of lymphadenenctomy? The therapeutic significance of lymphadenectomy has long been a matter of great debate. In 1964, Lewis suggested a therapeutic effect of pelvic lymphadenectomy in nodepositive patients [5]. He employed pelvic lymphadenectomy because endometrial cancer often recurred at the pelvic side wall after conventional hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which suggested inadequate primary surgery. Retrospective studies suggest a therapeutic significance for lymphadenectomy, which is a function of removed lymph node count (thoroughness) and area of dissection (pelvic only versus pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy) [6–8]. However, two prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that intended to prove the therapeutic role of pelvic lymphadenectomy failed to show any survival advantage of pelvic lymphadenectomy versus no lymphadenectomy [9, 10]. However, there has been some criticism about the design of these trials because para-aortic lymphadenectomy was not included in the study arm. A retrospective cohort study which compared pelvic lymphadenectomy with combined pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy revealed survival improvement in the pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy group if this treatment was offered to intermediate-/high-risk endometrial cancer patients [11]. Based on these findings, discussions have begun about the design of future clinical trials to validate the therapeutic significance of lymphadenectomy. Topics for discussion include the eligibility of patients (all patients or selected patients at some risk of nodal metastasis), extent of lymphadenectomy (area: pelvic alone versus pelvic plus para-aortic, thoroughness: number of nodes removed), and type of experimental design (RCT versus cohort study). The difficulties and pitfalls of RCTs for validating surgical procedures have often been addressed [12–16]. These include the participating surgeons’ expertise in experimental N. Sakuragi (&) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, North 15, West 7, Kitaku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan e-mail: sakuragi@med.hokudai.ac.jp

The role of para-aortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common malignancy of the female reproductive tract and the fourth most common cancer overall. Approximately 20% of patients with EC harbor disease outside the uterus, and 10% of patients initially diagnosed with cancer confined to the uterus are found to have lymph node metastases. Para-aortic lymph node involvement occurs in approximately 7-8% of EC patients overall and in about 50% of patients with positive pelvic nodes. Metastases to the para-aortic lymph nodes are associated with poor prognosis. Factors associated with para-aortic lymph node dissemination include advanced stage, high histological grade, deep myometrial invasion, cervical involvement, lymphovascular space involvement, and the presence of pelvic lymph node metastases. Approximately 77% of patients with para-aortic nodal involvement are found to have metastases above the level of the inferior mesenteric artery. Systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy with dissection optimally carried out to the renal vessels is important in high-risk patients in order to identify nodes present at distant sites, particularly above the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). While the definitive management of EC varies widely across the gynecological oncology community, there is a consensus that patients at risk for lymphatic metastases (high and intermediate risk) who are targeted with systematic lymphadenectomy may have an improved prognosis. Well-designed prospective studies evaluating the therapeutic role of systematic lymphadenectomy in EC are needed. Herein, we describe the role of para-aortic lymphadenectomy in the surgical staging of EC emphasizing its prerequisites, extent, and diagnostic and potential therapeutic advantages.

A cohort study evaluating paraaortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer

The current study sought to assess the role of paraaortic lymphadenectomy (LNE) in females with endometrial cancer. A retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer of stage IA to II preoperatively, between 2009 and 2011 was conducted. Patients were included who had suffered from endometrial cancer without preoperative adjuvant therapy and who underwent hysterectomy plus systematic pelvic LNE and paraaortic LNE by laparoscopy or laparotomy. A total of 54 patients who underwent surgery for preoperative endometrial cancer were selected. All patients underwent LNE. The incidences of pelvic and paraaortic lymph node metastases were 11.1% (6/54) and 7.4% (4/54), with a total positive lymph node rate of 14.8% (8/54). In addition, among the 8 positive cases, 5 patients underwent laparotomy and 3 underwent laparoscopy; 3 cases were classified as stage I and 5 as stage II preoperatively. Of these, 7 patients were identified with pathology-related risk factors, including low differentiation or clear cell adenocarcinoma postoperatively. Discordance of pathological differentiation between the pre- and postoperative stages reached 57.1% (4/7). The results revealed the high occurrence of positive lymph nodes in endometrial cancer which demonstrate the importance of systematic LNE. Additonally, no severe complications were caused by LNE besides lymph cysts. In summary, it is neccesary to perform LNE, particularly the removal of the paraaortic lymph node, in patients with endometrial cancers in order to improve postoperative therapy. Laparoscopy has similar surgical effects as laparotomy, but has a number of advantages.

Initial failure site according to primary treatment with or without para-aortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to compare the initial failure sites in patients with endometrial cancer who underwent surgical treatment including pelvic lymphadenectomy with or without para-aortic lymphadenectomy. MethodsA retrospective chart review was carried out for 657 endometrial cancer patients with no residual disease after initial treatments including lymphadenectomy at two tertiary centers between 1987 and 2004. Surgical treatment at one institute included pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLX) without para-aortic lymphadenectomy (PALX), while surgical treatment including PLX+PALX was routinely performed at the other institute. We identified patients with recurrence and evaluated initial failure sites. Rates of recurrence in the respective sites were compared according to the type of lymphadenectomy. ResultsOf the 657 patients, 103 (15.7%) suffered recurrence. There was no significant difference between the rate of intrapelvic recurrence in the PLX alone group and that in the PLX+PALX group (4.7% vs. 2.9%, p=0.22). The rate of extrapelvic recurrence in the PLX alone group was significantly higher than that in the PLX+PALX group (16.1% vs. 6.2%, p<0.0001), and the rate of para-aortic node (PAN) recurrence in the PLX alone group was also significantly higher than that in the PLX+PALX group (5.1% vs. 0.6%, p=0.0004). In the analysis of patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy, the rate of PAN recurrence in the PLX alone group was significantly higher than that in the PLX+PALX group (9.5% vs. 1.3%, p=0.0036). ConclusionPAN recurrence was a failure pattern peculiar to the PLX alone group. Adjuvant chemotherapy might not be able to replace surgical removal as a treatment for metastatic lymph nodes.

A Retrospective Analysis of Postoperative Complications With or Without Para-aortic Lymphadenectomy in Endometrial Cancer

Although para-aortic lymphadenectomy (PALX) has not been accepted as a standard treatment for patients with endometrial cancer, it is possible that systematic lymphadenectomy including PALX has therapeutic significance for patients with intermediate-/high-risk endometrial cancer. On the other hand, a consensus regarding the safety of PALX has not been reached. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence rates of postoperative complications after pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLX) with or without PALX in patients with uterine corpus cancer. A retrospective chart review was carried out for all patients with endometrial cancer treated at 2 tertiary centers between 1998 and 2004. Surgery at one institute included both PLX and PALX, whereas PLX alone was routinely performed at the other institute. A total of 142 patients underwent PLX + PALX and 138 patients underwent PLX alone. We evaluated postoperative complications including intraoperative injury, ileus, lymphedema, lymphocyst, and thrombosis. There was no fatal accident associated with surgery. Lymphedema was the most frequent complication. Comparing the PLX + PALX group and the PLX group, there were no significant differences in the rate of cases of lymphedema (23.2% vs 28.3%), lymphocyst (9.2% vs 9.4%), and thrombosis (4.9% vs 2.2%). The rate of cases of mild/moderate ileus in the PLX + PALX group was significantly higher than that in the PLX group (10.5% vs 2.9%; P = 0.011). However, no significant difference in the rates of cases of severe ileus was found between the 2 groups (1.4% vs 0.7%). There were also no significant differences between the 2 groups in the rates of intraoperative organ injury (2.8% vs 2.2%) and secondary operation for postoperative complications (4.9% vs 4.3%). Para-aortic lymphadenectomy can be performed with an acceptable morbidity under the conditions in which it is performed by experienced surgeons, and measures to prevent complications are properly taken.

Survival effect of para-aortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer (SEPAL study): a retrospective cohort analysis

Survival effect of para-aortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer (SEPAL study): a retrospective cohort analysis

Lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer: when, not if

The lack of consensus for primary surgical treatment of endometrial cancer, the most common gynaecological cancer, is deplorable. Whether lymphadenectomy should be done together with hysterectomy has been debated at length and passionately. Resolution of this problem has been confounded by several issues, such as selection of patients, the perceived goals of lymphadenectomy, and clinicians' failure to recognise the known routes of lymphatic spread from the uterus. 1 Bakkum-Gamez JN Gonzalez-Bosquet J Laack NN Mariani A Dowdy SC Current issues in the management of endometrial cancer. Mayo Clin Proc. 2008; 83: 97-112 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (115) Google Scholar In practice, lymphadenectomy varies from complete omission, to various iterations of lymph-node sampling, to systematic lymphadenectomy. Furthermore, the extent of lymphadenectomy ranges from pelvic-node dissection alone to dissection of the para-aortic area, which can include the aortic bifurcation to the inferior mesenteric artery and up to the renal vessels. Survival effect of para-aortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer (SEPAL study): a retrospective cohort analysisCombined pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy is recommended as treatment for patients with endometrial carcinoma of intermediate or high risk of recurrence. If a prospective randomised or comparative cohort study is planned to validate the therapeutic effect of lymphadenectomy, it should include both pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy in patients of intermediate or high risk of recurrence. Full-Text PDF

Survival effect of para-aortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer (SEPAL study): a retrospective cohort analysis

In response to findings that pelvic lymphadenectomy does not have any therapeutic benefit for endometrial cancer, we aimed to establish whether complete, systematic lymphadenectomy, including the para-aortic lymph nodes, should be part of surgical therapy for patients at intermediate and high risk of recurrence. We selected 671 patients with endometrial carcinoma who had been treated with complete, systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy (n=325 patients) or combined pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy (n=346) at two tertiary centres in Japan (January, 1986-June, 2004). Patients at intermediate or high risk of recurrence were offered adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy. The primary outcome measure was overall survival. Overall survival was significantly longer in the pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy group than in the pelvic lymphadenectomy group (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.38-0.76; p=0.0005). This association was also recorded in 407 patients at intermediate or high risk (p=0.0009), but overall survival was not related to lymphadenectomy type in low-risk patients. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors showed that in patients with intermediate or high risk of recurrence, pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy reduced the risk of death compared with pelvic lymphadenectomy (0.44, 0.30-0.64; p<0.0001). Analysis of 328 patients with intermediate or high risk who were treated with adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy showed that patient survival improved with pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy (0.48, 0.29-0.83; p=0.0049) and with adjuvant chemotherapy (0.59, 0.37-1.00; p=0.0465) independently of one another. Combined pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy is recommended as treatment for patients with endometrial carcinoma of intermediate or high risk of recurrence. If a prospective randomised or comparative cohort study is planned to validate the therapeutic effect of lymphadenectomy, it should include both pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy in patients of intermediate or high risk of recurrence. Japanese Foundation for Multidisciplinary Treatment of Cancer, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

Survival effect of para-aortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer (SEPAL study): a retrospective cohort analysis

Survival effect of para-aortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer (SEPAL study): a retrospective cohort analysis

Role of complete para-aortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer

Many reports suggest the significance of pelvic lymph-node (PLN) adenectomy in patients with endometrial cancer. However, among these, there is controversy regarding not only what type of patients should have lymphadenectomy performed, but also what extent lymphadenectomy should be performed. It has been reported that PLN adenectomy has therapeutic significance in stage I grade 3 and more advanced endometrioid uterine cancer. However, the effects of para-aortic lymph-node adenectomy on its prognostic benefit have not been discussed. Patients with low-risk disease might not benefit from PLN adenectomy. However, PLN adenectomy might still have merit in low-risk patients, as there are inaccuracies of preoperative and intraoperative assessments. A complete lymphadenectomy is safe with minimum complications. At this point, hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with complete PLN adenectomy as the standard surgical procedure for endometrial cancer is thought to be reasonable. At present, the addition of p-aortic lymph-node adenectomy is regarded as an investigated protocol for endometrial cancer. However, p-aortic lymph-node adenectomy may have a therapeutic role for stage IIIC patients. Prospective randomized controlled trial composed of intermediate/high-risk patients should be conducted to clearly demonstrate prognostic improvement by p-aortic lymph-node adenectomy itself.