Introduction: The risk of endometrial cancer recurrence is estimated to be about 20%. In most cases, such situations are recognized in the first 3 years after the primary treatment. Early detection of such episodes leads to effective treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate some histoclinical factors in the risk of recurrence.
Material and methods: Between the year 2001 and 2003, 203 from 243 patients with endometrial cancer underwent surgery. All procedures were performed in accordance with surgical-pathological staging system. The following histoclinical factors were taken into account: age, number of deliveries, BMI, use of estrogens, co-morbidity, histoclinical type, grading and the spread of cancer inside the uterus, pelvis and retroperitoneal space.
Results: 29 recurrences (14.3%) were found in all analyzed groups. The mean time of follow-up was 43 months. The mean time of recurrences was 16 months (9-51 months). Lymph node metastases were recognized in 28 patients (13.7%). The most important factors in the multivariate analysis were: type of histology (serous or clear cell cancer) and lymph node involvement. Recognizing 2 or more metastatic lymph nodes significantly increased the risk of recurrences.
Conclusion: In patients with endometrial cancer the risk of recurrences increases when lymph node metastases are recognized. This risk is 5 times higher when 2 or more lymph nodes are involved, comparing with patients with one node metastasis. Four times higher recurrence risk is observed in serous or clear cell cancer, comparing with other histological types.