Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2012 Feb;55(2):76-82. 10.5468/KJOG.2012.55.2.76.

The prognostic significance of lymphovascular space involvement in patients with uterine-confined endometrioid endometrial cancer

• Lim S
• Lee KB
• Park CY

• KMID: 2078118
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/KJOG.2012.55.2.76

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
We evaluated whether or not lymphovascular space involvement (LVSI) is a risk factor for the relapse of disease in patients with uterine-confined endometrioid endometrial cancer.
METHODS
A retrospective chart review was carried out of 165 patients with uterine confined endoemtrioid-type endometrial cancer after initial treatments including total abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, with or without lymphadenectomy, peritoneal washing between 1998 and 2010. The patients with positive peritoneal cytology were not excluded.
RESULTS
The median age was 52 years (range, 26 to 81 years) with a median follow-up of 46 months (range, 1 to 144 months). One hundred twenty-four patients (75.2%) received no adjuvant treatment, 41 patients (24.8%) received adjuvant treatment including platinum-based chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and chemoradiation. LVSI was present in 29 patients (17.6%). Eight patients (4.8%) developed recurrences. Using univariate analysis, age>50 years, the tumor grade, and LVSI were found to relate to recurrence-free survival (P < 0.05). LVSI was associated with other prognostic factors such as old age, a higher tumor grade, and deeper myometrial invasion. But multivariate analysis showed no significance. LVSI was not an independent factor to predict recurrence (P = 0.093).
CONCLUSION
LVSI was associated with an increased likelihood of recurrence via univariate analysis in patients with uterine-confined endometrioid endometrial cancer. Multivariate analysis showed no statistical significance. The presence of LVSI seems to have no effect, in and of itself, to alter the treatment plan or to predict the prognosis.

Keyword

Endometrial cancer; Iymphatic vessels; Recurrence

MeSH Terms

Endometrial Neoplasms
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hysterectomy
Lymph Node Excision
Multivariate Analysis
Polymethacrylic Acids
Prognosis
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Polymethacrylic Acids

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Survival curve by lymphovascular space involvement status.

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