Predictors of failure to perform pelvic peritoneal cytology in endometrial cancer staging surgery.

201 Background: The Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for endometrial cancer recommend performing pelvic peritoneal cytology to look for the presence of cancer cells in the peritoneal cavity in patients who are undergoing surgical staging of apparent non-metastatic disease. About 10% of cases have positive cytology and this information is used in formulating plans for adjuvant therapy. However, adherence to the guidelines recommending that cytology be performed is not universal. In this study, we sought to identify factors associated with failure to perform pelvic peritoneal cytology at the time of endometrial cancer staging surgery. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of women with FIGO stage I/II endometrial adenocarcinoma who underwent endometrial cancer staging surgery at our institution from 1993-2007. Predictors of failure to perform cytology that were investigated included: surgeon, presence of adhesions, intraoperative blood loss and conversion from laparoscopy to laparotomy. RESULTS: Among 1,112 cases, peritoneal cytology was not performed in 76 (6.8%). In 30 cases cytology was not performed for valid reasons including 15 in which the surgery was performed vaginally, 10 in which the diagnosis of endometrial cancer was not known prior to surgery and 5 in which gross evidence of stage III/IV disease was found at surgery. Of the remaining 46 cases, 11 (23.9%) had surgery that was converted from laparoscopy to laparotomy, 16 (34.8%) had dense pelvic adhesions and 40 (87.0%) had an estimated blood loss greater than 100 ml. The frequency of these and other risk factors will be compared to that seen in a matched cohort of patients who did have pelvic peritoneal cytology performed. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis will investigate predictors of failure to perform pelvic peritoneal cytology. Increased awareness of these factors has the potential to improve compliance with this accepted procedure that plays a role in planning adjuvant therapy for early stage endometrial cancer.

Duke Scholars

Author Angeles Alvarez Secord Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology

Author Laura Jean Havrilesky Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology

Author Andrew Berchuck Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology