Lower-limb drainage mapping for lymphedema risk reduction after pelvic lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer

Uptake and Outcomes of Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Women With Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia

OBJECTIVE

To examine the utilization, morbidity, and cost of sentinel lymph node mapping in women undergoing hysterectomy for complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia.

METHODS

Women with complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia who underwent hysterectomy from 2012 to 2018 in the Perspective database were examined. Perioperative morbidity, mortality, and cost were examined based on performance of sentinel lymph node mapping, lymph node dissection or no nodal evaluation.

RESULTS

Among 10,266 women, sentinel lymph node mapping was performed in 620 (6.0%), lymph node dissection in 538 (5.2%), and no lymphatic evaluation in 9,108 (88.7%). Use of sentinel lymph node mapping increased from 0.8% in 2012 to 14.0% in 2018, and the rate of lymph node dissection rose from 5.7% to 6.4% (P<.001). In an adjusted model, residence in the western United States, treatment by high-volume hospitals and use of robotic-assisted hysterectomy were associated with sentinel lymph node mapping (P<.05 for all). The complication rates were similar between the three groups. The median cost for sentinel lymph node mapping ($9,673) and lymph node dissection ($9,754) were higher than in those who did not undergo nodal assessment ($8,435) (P<.001).

CONCLUSION

Performance of sentinel lymph node mapping is increasing rapidly for women with complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia but is not associated with increased perioperative morbidity or mortality.

Extent of lymphadenectomy and postoperative major complications among women with endometrial cancer treated with minimally invasive surgery

BACKGROUND

In patients with endometrial cancer, sentinel lymphadenectomy is used to accurately prognosticate extent of disease, and has been proposed as a method to decrease the incidence of medical and surgical complications associated with more extensive lymphadenectomy. It is unknown whether patients who undergo traditional lymphadenectomy experience major postoperative complications at the same rates as those who undergo sentinel lymphadenectomy or those who do not undergo lymphadenectomy.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of major postoperative complications among endometrial cancer patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy with traditional lymphadenectomy vs sentinel or no lymphadenectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with endometrial cancer who underwent total laparoscopic hysterectomy recorded in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database between 2015 and 2016 were identified using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Primary exposure was extent of lymphadenectomy. The primary outcome was major postoperative complications as defined by the Clavien-Dindo scale. Associations were examined with bivariable tests and multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 3282 women with endometrial cancer who underwent total laparoscopic hysterectomy were identified; of these, 2049 (62.4%) did not undergo lymphadenectomy, 1089 (33.2%) underwent traditional lymphadenectomy, and 144 (4.4%) underwent sentinel lymphadenectomy. Traditional lymphadenectomy had the highest rate of major complications (3.6%) compared with sentinel lymphadenectomy (2.0%) and no lymphadenectomy (2.0%) (P = .03). Patients who underwent traditional lymphadenectomy also had the longest operating room times and procedures that were most surgically complex (171 minutes, 30.6 relative value units [RVU]) compared with patients who underwent sentinel lymphadenectomy (166 minutes, 24.9 RVU) or no lymphadenectomy (141 minutes, 15.0 RVU) (all P < .001). Patients who underwent traditional lymphadenectomy had nearly twice the odds of a major complication (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-2.9) and need for readmission (aOR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.5-3.4) compared to those who underwent sentinel or no lymphadenectomy. The incidence of readmission after traditional lymphadenectomy was higher (4.6%) than after sentinel lymphadenectomy (1.4%) and no lymphadenectomy (2.2%) (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Sentinel lymphadenectomy among patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy for endometrial cancer was associated with a decreased incidence of major postoperative complications and need for readmission when compared with traditional lymphadenectomy.