PROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF THE MORBIDITY OF COMPLETE LYMPHADENECTOMY IN ENDOMETRIAL CANCER

The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate the morbidity o f complete lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer. Eighty consecutive e ligible patients with endometrial cancer underwent surgical staging co nsisting of total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorect omy, peritoneal cytology, complete bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy, a nd aortic lymphadenectomy. We prospectively evaluated operative time, blood loss, and morbidity of lymphadenectomy. The median number of pel vic lymph nodes resected was 21 and aortic lymph nodes was 7. Median t ime of lymphadenectomy was 24 min. Median blood loss from lymphadenect omy was < 25 cc. There was one complication from lymphadenectomy. We c onclude that, in this prospective study, complete pelvic and aortic ly mphadenectomy in the surgical staging of endometrial cancer was perfor med quickly, with minimal blood loss and morbidity. In endometrial car cinoma surgical staging, the majority of operative time, blood loss, a nd morbidity is secondary to hysterectomy/oophorectomy rather than lym phadenectomy.