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Lymphoceles, Lymphorrhea, and Lymphedema after Laparoscopic and Open Endometrial Cancer Staging

  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the incidence of lymphoceles, lymphorrhea, and lymphedema after systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy in patients who underwent laparoscopic or open abdominal staging for endometrial cancer.

Methods

A total of 138 consecutive women who underwent systematic laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer staging were compared to 123 historical control subjects staged via an open approach. Postoperative screening for lymphadenectomy-related complications by ultrasound was consistently performed.

Results

The incidence of perioperative complications was lower in cases than in control subjects. Overall, lymphoceles were diagnosed in 19 (15.4%) and 2 (1.4%) patients who had open and laparoscopic staging, respectively (odds ratio 12.42; 95% confidence interval 2.82–54.55; P < 0.0001). Symptomatic lymphoceles were more frequent after open staging than after laparoscopy (P = 0.028). Lymphorrhea occurred in 1 and 4 patients after laparoscopic and open surgery (P = 0.19). No difference in the incidence of lymphedema was observed.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that laparoscopic endometrial cancer staging is associated with a lower occurrence of both asymptomatic and symptomatic lymphoceles compared to open surgery.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Insubria, Del Ponte Hospital, Varese, Italy

    Fabio Ghezzi MD, Stefano Uccella MD, Antonella Cromi PhD, Giorgio Bogani MD, Claudio Robba MD, Maurizio Serati MD & Pierfrancesco Bolis MD

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  1. Fabio Ghezzi MD
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  2. Stefano Uccella MD
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  3. Antonella Cromi PhD
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  4. Giorgio Bogani MD
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  7. Pierfrancesco Bolis MD
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Correspondence to Fabio Ghezzi MD.

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Ghezzi, F., Uccella, S., Cromi, A. et al. Lymphoceles, Lymphorrhea, and Lymphedema after Laparoscopic and Open Endometrial Cancer Staging. Ann Surg Oncol 19, 259–267 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-011-1854-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-011-1854-5

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