The prognostic significance of lymph-vascular space invasion in stage I endometrial cancer

Cancer. 1985 Apr 15;55(8):1753-7. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19850415)55:8<1753::aid-cncr2820550823>3.0.co;2-p.

Abstract

Surgical specimens from 111 patients with Stage I endometrial cancer were reviewed for the presence of lymph-vascular space invasion by tumor cells. Lymph-vascular space invasion was noted in 16 cases, and occurred most frequently in poorly differentiated tumors with deep myometrial penetration. Tumor recurrence developed in 44% of patients whose tumors demonstrated lymph-vascular space invasion as opposed to only 2% of patients without this finding (p less than 0.001). Of seven patients with lymph-vascular space invasion who experienced tumor recurrence, five developed extra-pelvic metastases. Discriminant function analysis of these data revealed a statistically significant correlation between lymph-vascular space invasion and tumor recurrence, independent of histologic differentiation of myometrial penetration. These findings suggest that lymph-vascular space invasion by tumor cells is an important prognostic variable in Stage I endometrial cancer which should be considered in treatment planning.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary
  • Adenocarcinoma / therapy
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / secondary
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / therapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Middle Aged
  • Myometrium / pathology
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Parity
  • Prognosis
  • Uterine Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / therapy