PATHOLOGICAL STAGE-I ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMA - THE ROLE FOR ADJUVANT RADIOTHERAPY

Background: In order to assess the efficacy of adjuvant radiotherapy in the treatment of pathological stage I endometrial carcinoma, we performed a retrospective analysis of 158 patients with this diagnosis who after surgery were either treated with radiation therapy or only followed from January 1980 through December 1987. Methods: Patients were divided into two prognostic categories, high and low risk, on the basis of three known predictors of survival: histology, differentiation, and depth of myometrial invasion. All patients underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy but only the high risk group received radiotherapy as well. Results: After a median follow up time of 59 months the survival rates of the two groups were similar. The 5-year disease-free survival of the surgery alone group was 92% compared to 89% for the postoperative radiotherapy group. Side effects of treatment were minimal. Conclusions: Postoperative radiation therapy for high risk pathological stage I endometrial carcinoma is an effective adjuvant therapy and confers an excellent prognosis.