STAGE-II CARCINOMA OF THE ENDOMETRIUM

An analysis of 117 patients with histologic documented Stage 11 adenocarcinoma of the endometrium treated between 1945 and 1974 is presented. The 3-year survival for all patients was 58%. Patients treated with radiation therapy alone (tandem, ovoids and external radiation therapy) had a 29% survival, while patients treated with radiation therapy and surgery had a 70% survival (p < 0.001). The patients with stromal invasion of the cervix demonstrated a significantly lower survival (47%) than those patients whose endocervical involvement was limited to the endocervical glands or had no stroma present in the endocervical curettage (74%) (p < 0.01). An analysis of this data along with a review of the literature suggests that: (1) hysterectomy plays a critical role in the survival for Stage 11 carcinoma of the endometrium, (2) aggressive radiation therapy to include uterine packing (i.e. Heyman capsules) should be attempted in those patients who are not surgical candidates, (3) invasion of the cervical stroma would appear to alter survival significantly. © 1979.