A retrospective analysis of endometrial carcinoma cases surgically treated with or without para-aortic lymph node dissection followed by adjuvant chemotherapy

To analyze the efficacies of para-aortic node (PAN) dissection for patients undergoing surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy for endometrial carcinomas.At the Osaka University Hospital and the Kaizuka City Hospital in Osaka, Japan, either pelvic lymph nodes (PLN) plus para-aortic lymph nodes (PAN) or PLN-only dissections were performed for endometrial carcinomas. An adjuvant chemotherapy using paclitaxel, epirubicin, and carboplatin was conducted for all such patients. A retrospective comparison of the efficacy of PAN dissection was conducted.Disease-free and overall survivals and frequency of PAN involvement at the first recurrence did not exhibit a statistically significant difference between the PLN-only group and the PLN + PAN group. Operation time was significantly longer in the PLN + PAN group than the PLN-only group, and the total blood loss was also significantly greater in the PLN+PAN group.PAN dissection may be omitted, without adverse effect on prognosis, for endometrial carcinoma patients with recurrence risks who undergo adjuvant chemotherapy using platinum, anthracycline and taxane derivatives.