The role of laparoscopy in the surgical treatment of endometrial cancer

INTRODUCTION: Endometrial carcinoma is one of the most common neoplasms in gynecological oncology and the most common genital cancer in women in developed countries. The 5-year overall survival rate depends on the FIGO stage. For patients with stage I endometrial cancer it is estimated as 80%. Traditionally, the main treatment of endometrial cancer consists of total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and, in some histological or clinical stages, with additional pelvic lymphadenectomy. The main surgical approach so far for women with endometrial cancer has been laparotomy. However, in the last decades there have been many reports stating that the survival rate in such cases is similar after laparoscopy and laparotomy. Some researchers claim that laparoscopy is as effective as laparotomy, and it might be much more precise than laparotomy thanks to its special optic system. AIM: To establish the method of choice for treatment of stage I endometrial cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Comparing the preliminary results from data collected during surgical procedures performed at the First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Medical Centre of Postgraduate Education in Warsaw and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Rural Hospital in Garwolin. RESULTS: Laparoscopy is as effective as laparotomy, and it might be much more precise than laparotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Taking into consideration all the above arguments, if an experienced endoscopic surgeon and proper laparoscopic equipment are available, laparoscopy might become the method of choice for treatment of stage I endometrial cancer.