Quality of life in patients with endometrial cancer treated with or without systematic lymphadenectomy

Objective: To compare the quality of life (QoL) of women affected by endometrial cancer treated with surgery with or without systematic lymphadenectomy. Study design: Consecutive patients affected by stages I and II endometrial cancer and treated with surgery between 2008 and 2011 were selected. Eligible subjects were divided into two groups: Group A consisted of 36 patients who had hysterectomy plus bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy without lymphadenectomy; Group B consisted of 40 patients who had hysterectomy plus salpingo-oophorectomy plus pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy. The EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire-Cancer Module (QLQ-C30) and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Endometrial Cancer Module (QLQ-EN24) were administered to selected patients. All data were recorded and then analyzed using the scoring manual of the EORTC Quality of Life Group. Results: Among symptom scales, only lymphedema gave a statistically significant difference among two groups, with a score of 10.64 +/- 17.43 in Group A and 21.66 +/- 24.51 in Group B (p = 0.0285). The p value obtained comparing the "Global Health Status" (items 29 and 30) in Group A and in Group B was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Lymphadenectomy did not influence negatively global health status, but lymphadenectomy maintained its importance in determining a patient's prognosis and in tailoring adjuvant therapies. We therefore support its practice as part of the surgical procedure in patients affected by high risk endometrial cancer. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.