Effect of tumor morcellation in patients with early uterine sarcoma: a multicenter study in Germany

OBJECTIVE: The use of power morcellation at laparoscopy may worsen survival rates for patients with malignancy. The aim of the present study was to report the outcome of patients with early-stage uterine sarcoma after morcellation or total en-bloc resection, and evaluate potential signs of sarcoma preoperatively. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study consisted of patients, who underwent surgery for FIGO-stage-1 uterine sarcoma. Twenty-four patients were divided into a non-morcellation group and a morcellation group. Clinical records and the outcomes of patients, including one-, three- and five-year survival rates were reviewed. Preoperative characteristics of patients with sarcoma were compared to those of a control group with uterine myoma (1:4 ratio), matched by age and type of operation. RESULTS: Obesity was an independent risk factor for uterine myoma. Tumor growth, solitary growth, largest-diameter lesion >8.0 cm, and anechoic areas suggesting necrosis and increased vascularization were significantly more common in the sarcoma group. A large tumor diameter was significantly associated with mortality. Patients in the non-morcellation group had a slightly lower disease-free survival, but poorer overall survival (OS) rates compared to patients in the morcellation group, but neither difference was statistically significant. Patients in the non-morcellation group, who had undergone a re-exploration experienced late recurrence, but no upstaging was evident after the operation. CONCLUSION: Preoperative ultrasound characteristics could be useful to distinguish sarcoma from leiomyoma of uterus. Morcellation of a sarcoma may increase abdominal and pelvic recurrence rates, but may not be associated with OS in patients with FIGO-stage-1 disease.