Effect of low uterine segment involvement on prognosis of early stage endometrial cancer.

AIM: Our aim is to investigate the effect of uterine lower segment involvement on prognosis of early-stage endometrial cancer cases diagnosed and treated in our clinic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The file records of 316 cases reviewed retrospectively.Only stage I (a and b, n=209) cases were investigated, because they were more homogeneous group.

RESULTS: The lymphovascular invasion rate was found to be higher in patients with stage Ia and uterine lower segment involvement (p < 0.001). Adjuvant treatment requirement was higher in patients with stage Ia and uterine lower segment involvement (p < 0.001). Among stage Ia cases, the recurrence rate between 1 and 3 years was found to be higher in cases with uterine lower segment involvement (p = 0.001). Among the stage Ib cases, lymphovascular invasion was found to be higher in cases with uterine lower segment involvement (p < 0.001). The recurrence rate between 1 and 3 years was found to be higher in stage Ib compared to Ia (p = 0.01). Uterine lower segment involvement was found to be associated with high lymphovascular invasion rate in all stage I cases (p < 0.001). It was determined that the need for adjuvant treatment was higher in cases with uterine lower segment involvement (p < 0.001). It was determined that the probability of recurrence between 1 and 3 years was higher in cases with uterine lower segment involvement (p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION: Uterine lower segment involvement is associated with increased lymphovascular invasion even in the early stages. It is an important risk factor for systemic spread such as lymphovascular invasion, myometrial invasion, and lymph node involvement.