Efficacy of endocervical curettage and CA-125 measurement in endometrial serous carcinoma: A case series and literature review

OBJECTIVE: This is a case series and literature review of patients with endometrial serous carcinoma (ESC) in which endocervical curettage (ECC) and CA-125 measurement were utilized as a diagnostic procedure in preoperative staging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The patients were treated in the gynecologic oncology clinic of İstanbul University Faculty of Medicine between January 2005, and January 2015. A total of 37 patients were included in the final analysis. RESULTS: ECC accurately predicted ESC in 22 patients (59.5%). The mean pre-operative serum CA-125 level was 73.24±3.30 IU/mL; pre-operative serum CA-125 levels were elevated above 35 IU/mL in 25 patients (69%). CONCLUSION: ECC is an acceptable diagnostic tool to predict the presence or absence of cervical involvement in endometrial cancer. On the other hand, its accuracy in specific subgroups requires further analysis in carefully designed prospective studies. Furthermore, pre-operative serum CA-125 levels may be important for management and counseling in the subgroup of women with ESC.