Does surgical staging of clinical Stage I endometrial carcinoma significantly alter adjuvant management?

Full surgical staging for endometrial cancer has been advocated since 1988, when FIGO redefined stage of disease on the basis of surgico-pathological criteria. However, such extensive surgery, performed on often elderly women, must counterbalance any increased morbidity against the potential gains of altered subsequent management. We report a 2-year review of 22 patients undergoing full surgical staging for Stage I endometrial cancer. Nine women (41%) had altered adjuvant treatment as a result. In seven patients, decisions regarding postoperative radiotherapy treatment were influenced and two women had an unsuspected ovarian tumour. Postoperative complications were minor, apart from one wound dehiscence. There were no perioperative deaths and no blood transfusions. Surgical staging was found to be a safe intervention with a significant impact on adjuvant management.