Surgical management of endometrial cancer in Slovak Republic.

AIM: To evaluate the routine surgical treatment of endometrial cancer in Slovak Republic in relation to current international recommendations.

METHODS: A retrospective study based on a questionnaire was undertaken. Data on surgical and post-operative adjuvant therapy of endometrial cancer patients in Slovakia in 2001 were collected, assessed and validated for good clinical practice.

RESULTS: We presented data of 298 cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma from 48 of 66 Slovak gynecologic departments. Laparotomy with hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed in 280/298 patients. Peritoneal washings were examined in 41/298 cases. Lymphadenectomy (pelvic and/or para-aortic) was performed in 52/298 of the women. Malignancy remained undiagnosed in 29/298 of the cases until it was detected by histological investigation of extirpated uterus.

CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that surgical management of endometrial cancer is far from optimal. It seems necessary to restrict treatment to the centres with gynecologic oncologists trained in pelvic surgery.