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, assesed 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.