LAS VEGAS – Minimally invasive surgical staging for endometrial cancer produced outcomes in elderly women similar to those in younger women, according to a chart review of 109 women with clinical stage I disease.
Endometrial cancer is especially prominent in elderly women, with the median age of diagnosis of 63 years; 45% of women are diagnosed at age 65 or older. Although numerous studies have shown that minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is a safe, feasible alternative to laparotomy in the management of endometrial cancer, few data are available regarding MIS approaches to endometrial cancer in the elderly population, said Dr. Melissa K. Frey of New York–Presbyterian Hospital, New York.
In this retrospective study, the 48 patients aged 65 and older had a mean age of 73 years, and the 61 in the younger group had a mean age of 56 years. There were no differences between the older and younger groups in body mass index or number of prior abdominal surgeries. However, the older group did have more major comorbidities (73% vs. 31%).
Laparoscopic procedures were used in 31 elderly patients and 36 younger women, while robotic-assisted laparoscopic procedures were used in 17 older and 25 younger patients, she reported at the meeting.
There were no significant differences in mean surgical time (239 minutes in the younger group vs. 228 in the older), estimated blood loss (187 vs. 159 mL), blood transfusions (2 vs. 1 per patient), surgical complications (4 vs. 2), mean hospital stay (2.4 vs. 2.6 days), or mean number of lymph nodes removed (18 vs. 19).
“Minimally invasive staging of endometrial cancer is feasible and safe in elderly women,” Dr. Frey concluded.
She stated that she had no relevant financial disclosures.