The influence of early diagnosis of endometrioid endometrial cancer on disease stage and survival.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether the presence or duration of uterine bleeding is associated with disease stage, and survival of patients with endometrioid endometrial carcinoma (EEC).

METHODS

The records of 220 patients with EEC who underwent surgery were reviewed. The patients were divided into three groups according to the presence and duration of vaginal bleeding at the time of surgery. Group 1, without vaginal bleeding; group 2, vaginal bleeding up to 3 months; group 3, vaginal bleeding exceeding 3 months prior to surgery. Disease stage and survival were between the three groups.

RESULTS

Of the 220 patients, 42 (19%) were asymptomatic; 95 (43%) had symptom duration of up to 3 months and 83 (38%) experienced bleeding for >3 months. There were no significant differences between groups 1, 2 and 3 regarding the proportion of patients with deep invasion in stage I (21, 24, 26%, p = 0.84; respectively), with grade 3 tumors (10, 13, 14%, p = 0.42; respectively) or with advanced stage disease (12, 14, 15%, p = 0.92; respectively). Survival analysis demonstrated a non-significant trend toward better survival in asymptomatic patients and in patients with a shorter duration of symptoms (p = 0.172).

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosis of EEC in asymptomatic patients or in patients with a short duration of bleeding is associated with comparable stage and survival.