Long-term survival of a patient with stage IIIC2 grade 3 endometrioid endometrial carcinoma treated with surgery alone

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic benefit of lymphadenectomy in endometrial carcinoma is controversial. CASE: A 70-year-old woman with grade 3 endometrioid endometrial carcinoma with deep myometrial invasion underwent surgical staging comprising total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, peritoneal cytology, and pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. Pathological examination revealed micro-metastases in the para-aortic node, pelvic node, and left ovary. Peritoneal cytology was negative, and abnormal p53 expression was not detected. The patient was diagnosed with stage IIIC2 endometrial carcinoma. Adjuvant chemotherapy was advised, but the patient refused chemotherapy and was followed up regularly thereafter. The patient survived without any evidence of disease 67 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy may have a therapeutic benefit in a patient with high-grade endometrioid carcinoma, but without p53 abnormality.