Quality of life in patients with endometrial cancer treated with or without systematic lymphadenectomy

• Published in: European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology Vol. 170; no. 2; pp. 539 - 543
• Main Authors: Angioli, Roberto, Plotti, Francesco, Cafà, Ester Valentina, Dugo, Nella, Capriglione, Stella, Terranova, Corrado, Montera, Roberto, Guzzo, Federica, Panici, Pierluigi Benedetti
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.10.2013
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - surgery; Aged; Endometrial cancer; Endometrial Neoplasms - surgery; Female; Humans; Lymph Node Excision; Lymphadenectomy; Middle Aged; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Prognosis; Quality of Life; Retrospective Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Survival Analysis; Endometrial cancer; Lymphadenectomy; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0301-2115; 1872-7654; 1872-7654
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2013.07.037

To compare the quality of life (QoL) of women affected by endometrial cancer treated with surgery with or without systematic lymphadenectomy. Consecutive patients affected by stages I and II endometrial cancer and treated with surgery between 2008 and 2011 were selected. Eligible subjects were divided into two groups: Group A consisted of 36 patients who had hysterectomy plus bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy without lymphadenectomy; Group B consisted of 40 patients who had hysterectomy plus salpingo-oophorectomy plus pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy. The EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-Cancer Module (QLQ-C30) and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Endometrial Cancer Module (QLQ-EN24) were administered to selected patients. All data were recorded and then analyzed using the scoring manual of the EORTC Quality of Life Group. Among symptom scales, only lymphedema gave a statistically significant difference among two groups, with a score of 10.64±17.43 in Group A and 21.66±24.51 in Group B (p=0.0285). The p value obtained comparing the “Global Health Status” (items 29 and 30) in Group A and in Group B was not statistically significant. Lymphadenectomy did not influence negatively global health status, but lymphadenectomy maintained its importance in determining a patient's prognosis and in tailoring adjuvant therapies. We therefore support its practice as part of the surgical procedure in patients affected by high risk endometrial cancer.