Sentinel lymph node mapping alone compared to more extensive lymphadenectomy in patients with uterine serous carcinoma

Gynecol Oncol. 2020 Jan;156(1):70-76. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2019.10.005. Epub 2019 Nov 16.

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of our study was to assess survival among patients with uterine serous carcinoma (USC) undergoing sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping alone versus patients undergoing systematic lymphadenectomy (LND).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing primary surgical treatment for newly diagnosed USC at our institution from 1/1/1996-12/31/2017. Patients were assigned to either SLN mapping alone (SLN cohort) or systematic LND without SLN mapping (LND cohort). Progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method, compared using Logrank test.

Results: 245 patients were available for analysis: 79 (32.2%) underwent SLN, 166 (67.7%) LND. 132 (79.5%) in the LND cohort had paraaortic LND (PALND) versus none in the SLN cohort. Median age: 66 and 68 years in the SLN and LND cohorts, respectively (p>0.05). Proportion of stage I/II disease: 67.1% (n = 53) and 64.5% (n = 107) in the SLN and LND cohorts, respectively (p>0.05). Median follow-up: 23 (range, 1-96) and 66 months (range, 4-265) in the SLN and LND cohorts, respectively (p < 0.001). Two-year OS in stage I/II disease (n = 160, 60.1%): 96.6% (SE ± 3.4) and 89.6% (SE ± 2.2) in the SLN and LND cohorts, respectively (p = 0.8). Two-year OS in stage III disease (n = 77): 73.6% (SE ± 10.2) and 77.3% (SE ± 5.8) in the SLN and LND cohorts, respectively (p = 0.8).

Conclusions: SLN mapping alone and systematic LND yielded similar survival outcomes in stage I-III USC. In our practice, the SLN algorithm has replaced systematic LND as the primary staging modality in this setting.

Keywords: Endometrial cancer; Lymphadenectomy; Sentinel lymph node; Uterine serous carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / mortality
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / pathology*
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / surgery*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / mortality
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology*
  • Lymph Nodes / surgery*
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sentinel Lymph Node / pathology*
  • Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / methods
  • Survival Analysis