Survey among German gynecologists on the clinical management of patients with sarcomas of the uterus

Anticancer Res. 2013 Aug;33(8):3375-81.

Abstract

Aim: To gain more information about the knowledge of the clinical management of uterine sarcoma.

Materials and methods: This survey was performed among members of the North-Eastern German Society of Gynecological Oncology (NOGGO) and the German Society of Psychosomatic Medicine in Gynecology and Obstetrics (DGPFG) on the treatment of uterine sarcomas.

Results: Altogether, 374 gynecologists took part. When asked about the surgical therapy of leiomyosarcoma, 64% indicated hysterectomy with bilateral adenectomy and lymph node dissection. Answers on the extent of lymphadenectomy in leiomyosarcoma differed widely. When asked about the preferred chemotherapy regimen for metastatic uterine sarcoma, more than 60% of all gynecologists would not apply any chemotherapy. Almost 40% recommended any kind of radiotherapy in this situation.

Conclusion: There is a great uncertainty about the standard treatment of uterine sarcoma, even among specialists of gynecological oncology. It is time for organized efforts to improve the treatment of uterine sarcoma.

Keywords: German gynaecologists; Survey; uterine sarcoma.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Demography
  • Female
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Gynecology / statistics & numerical data*
  • Health Care Surveys / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Leiomyosarcoma / epidemiology
  • Leiomyosarcoma / surgery
  • Lymph Node Excision
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Sarcoma / drug therapy
  • Sarcoma / epidemiology*
  • Sarcoma / surgery
  • Sarcoma / therapy*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Uterine Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / surgery
  • Uterine Neoplasms / therapy*