Is it safe to operate selected low-risk endometrial cancer patients in secondary hospitals?
: Narva Sara, Polo-Kantola Päivi, Oksa Sinikka, Kallio Johanna, Huvila Jutta, Rissanen Tiia, Hynninen Johanna, Hietanen Sakari, Joutsiniemi Titta
Publisher: Academic Press
: 2024
: EJSO - European Journal of Surgical Oncology
: European Journal of Surgical Oncology
: 108317
: 50
: 6
: 0748-7983
: 1532-2157
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejso.2024.108317(external)
: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejso.2024.108317(external)
Introduction: The 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.
Methods: A 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.
Results: Postoperative 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.
Conclusions: The 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.