Preoperative assessment requires only endometrial sampling for diagnos
is. Curettage is needed when endometrial sampling is unsatisfactory. T
ransvaginal ultrasonography may be useful in screening high-risk patie
nts, as well as in assessing myoinvasion or cervical extension. Postsu
rgical pathologic prognostic factor analysis is most accurate in assig
ning risk for recurrence. Once the extent of disease is confirmed by t
he surgical staging procedure of hysterectomy bilateral removal of the
ovaries, and selective pelvic and periaortic node dissection, adjunct
ive therapy can be considered. Patients with low-risk stage IA and IB
grade 1 disease require hysterectomy and removal of the adnexa. The po
orer prognosis of patients with grade 2 or 3 histologic features in st
ages IB to IIB dictates considerations for adjunctive therapy. Soon ra
ndomized controlled trials will elucidate objectively what may be opti
mal adjunctive therapy. On-going prospective trials will clarify the r
ole of operative laparoscopy. Current management guidelines are based
on independent prognostic factors derived from analysis of surgicopath
ologic studies.