ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMA IN THE SOUTH OF ISRAEL - STUDY OF 231 CASES

Background and Objectives: Endometrial carcinoma is the commonest fema le genital tract malignancy in the south of Israel. The purpose of thi s study was to investigate the clinical and histologic findings, treat ment and outcome of patients with endometrial carcinoma in the south o f Israel. Methods: Data from the files of 231 patients with endometria l carcinoma who were managed at the Soroka Medical Center between Janu ary 1961 and December 1994 were evaluated. Results: Endometrial carcin oma was more prevalent among Jewish as compared to Arab-Beduin women: and among Ashkenazi as compared to Sephardic Jewish women. The prevail ing presenting symptom was postmenopausal bleeding and most patients ( 68.8%) had Stage I disease. Most patients (209/225, 92.9%) underwent s urgery, 131/222 (59%) had radiotherapy and 15/214 (7%) received chemot herapy. The 5-year survival rate was 79.1% overall; 89% for Stage I, 7 1.7% for Stage II, 21.6% for Stage III and 0% for Stage IV; 89.8% for Grade 1, 70% for Grade 2 and 60.9% for Grade 3; 100% for adenoacanthom a, 82% for endometrioid carcinoma, 65.8% for adenosquamous carcinoma a nd 51.6% for papillary serous carcinoma. Conclusions: Endometrial carc inomas are characterized by a relatively favorable prognosis with a 5- year survival of about 80%. Surgical stage, histologic differentiation and histologic subtype are sensitive predictors of survival. The main stay of treatment is surgery with adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy when ne cessary. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.