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Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological cancer in developed countries and the incidence rate has been increasing over the past decades, according to the Globocan 2020 report with data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).1,2
Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is an important risk factor for survival in EC. The therapeutic effects of pelvic and para-aortic lymph node removal is a matter of great debate.3,4 In this regard, there is no consensus on whether systematic lymphadenectomy maximizes the therapeutic effect of this procedure and reduces the invasiveness of the surgery. For this reason, classifying patients according to their stage of risk for surgical planning is needed. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage is an evidence-based document that guides toward prognostic factors in EC and its surgical planning.5 Low-risk6 EC is identified with endometroid/grade 1–2 histological type, myoinvasion <50% and no imaging of cervical invasion, or node or pelvic metastases. These patients do not show decreasing risk of death or disease recurrence with the lymphadenectomy. Surgical treatment is planned based on the preoperative assessment of the histological subtype and depending on the grade and depth of myometrial invasion, as observed in the uterine imaging.7
The pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the method of choice for preoperative staging.8–10 The MRI allows the introduction of other parameters, which optimize the presurgical study versus the ultrasound. However, conventional pelvic MRI has reported limitations in detecting the staging parameters and could result in overestimation or underestimation of the depth of myometrial invasion,11,12 and, therefore, the advantage of assessing the tumor volume preoperatively is lost.13,14
It is already known that tumor size is an important prognostic factor in EC, existing a strong correlation between tumor size higher than 2 cm and the risk of nodal disease and worse overall survival, even in patients in an early stage and low-grade EC.15–17 Although the tumor size is a determinant prognostic factor in the adjuvant treatment after the surgery, it is not standardized as an additional parameter in the preoperative study when it comes to assessing the surgical decision.
The main objective of this research was to explore the relationship between the tumor volume in the EC in the MRI and the lymph node metastasis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS Study designAn observational retrospective study of a prospective database was conducted. 194 women diagnosed with EC between January 2016 and December 2021 at the Juan Ramón Jiménez Hospital in Huelva (Spain) were included.
127 patients were studied preoperatively using magnetic resonance imaging. All patients were treated according to current guidelines. For the analytical study, only these 127 patients were included, diagnosed with low-intermediate-high-risk endometrioid carcinoma with preoperative MRI and staging surgery performed. The study was approved by the Huelva Regional Research Ethics Committee (2534-N-21). Patients who were not assessed through preoperative MRI were excluded from the study.
Patients' medical histories were studied in order to detect risk factors for lymph node metastasis. The variables used were: (1) histological type, (2) tumor grade, (3) myometrial invasion, (4) Ca125 level, (5) MRI volume index, and (6) lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI).
Every variable was stratified using a binary classification. (1) Histological type was classified into endometroid/nonendometroid, (2) tumor grade into G1/G2 versus G3. (3) Myoinvasion was classified according to the revised FIGO system 50% versus ≥50%. (4–5) Volume index and Ca125 level serum were classified into two categories using the measurement obtained by the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve for lymph node metastasis based on sensitivity and specificity. LVSI determination was reported preoperatively and confirmed on the final histology in all included patients.
Imaging protocolPreoperative pelvic MRI was performed using equipment with a 1.5 T magnetic field (Phillips Healthcare or General Electric Medical Systems). High-resolution T2-weighted turbo spin-echo sequences were performed (3 mm slice thickness) in the three orthogonal or oblique planes appropriate for the major and minor axes of the body of the uterus, as well as diffusion-weighted planar echo sequence (DWI) with a maximum b value >600 s/mm2 and corresponding apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. Additional sequences (weighted on T1 or T2 with fat saturation) as well as the use of T1 sequences with fat saturation after administration of gadolinium were used at the discretion of the supervising radiologist of the study. MRIs were analyzed by a radiologist with more than 10 years of experience in gynecological cancer imaging.
The estimated volumes of the neoplasm and uterus have been calculated using an ellipsoid formula (Longitudinal × Transverse × Anteroposterior × [π/3]). The neoplasm/uterus volume ratio (N/U) was calculated. Subsequently, a manual calculation of the volume was carried out by contouring the lesions or region of interest (ROI) in which the neoplasm showed the largest size in T2W, using the standard software (LiveWire, Carestream, or Phillips VUE PACS tool).
Statistical analysisContinuous variables are reported as mean ± standard deviation (SD) or median with interquartile range (IQR), and all categorical variables are reported as number and percentage. Normality was evaluated using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Comparisons between categorical variables were analyzed using the Chi-squared test. For continuous variables, comparisons were made using the Mann–Whitney U test or Kruskal–Wallis, as appropriate. For multiple comparisons, the Bonferroni correction was applied. Longitudinal comparisons were made through the Wilcoxon test. Analyses of ROC were performed to assess the optimal cut-off value and diagnostic accuracy of lymph node metastases. To estimate the diagnostic accuracy agreement between the optimal cut-off points in the different tumor volume parameters, Cohen's kappa statistic was used, so that κ = 0.01–0.20 (slight), κ = 0.21–0.40 (fair), κ = 0.41–0.60 (moderate), κ = 0.61–0.80 (substantial), and κ ≥ 0.81 (almost perfect). To study the predictive factors that determine lymph node metastases as independent risk factors, a logistic regression analysis was performed. Initially, a univariate analysis was performed and those factors with a significance below p = 0.1 were the variables included in the multivariate logistic regression analysis as independent, thus establishing the regression model. Odds Ratio (OR) and Confidence Intervals (CI) were calculated and reported. In all cases, a statistical significance of 5% (p < 0.05) was required. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical program, version 24.0.
RESULTSA total of 194 patients with endometrial cancer were identified over the period of study with a mean follow-up period of 66 months.
Surgical and baseline characteristics were as follows: the median age was of 63.73 years (range 28–91) and 82.56% were postmenopausal. The predominant histological subtype was endometrioid with a rate of 84.5%. Of the 194 patients in the cohort, 179 underwent complete surgical staging and ninety-seven patients (54.18%) had pelvic lymph node sampling, while 43 (24.02%) had accompanying para-aortic lymph node sampling. The mean number of nodes dissected was 13 (range 4–24) in the pelvic lymphadenectomy and 20 (range 5–30) in the para-aortic lymphadenectomy. Regarding the stage of the patients, 80 were IA FIGO stage (41%), while 50 were FIGO stage IB (25.3%); 1 (0.5%) had cervical stromal invasion (FIGO stage II); 43 were stage III (22.1%); and 7 were stage IV (3.6%). 20 patients (12.2%) presented lymph node metastases. Adjuvant treatment was given to 117 (60.30%) patients; 46 (23.71%) were submitted to chemotherapy; external radiation therapy was applied in 10 patients (5.1%); brachytherapy was administered in 98 (50.51%) of the patients; and 6 (3%) patients were treated with hormonal treatment (Table 1).
TABLE 1 Characteristics of endometrial cancer patients (
| Characteristics | Median (range, %) |
| Age median (range) | 63.73 years (28–91) |
| Postmenopausal status N (%) | 161 (82.56%) |
| Histopathologic subtypes N (%) | |
| Endometrioid | 164 (84.5%) |
| Nonendometroid | 30(15.5%) |
| Surgical lymphadenectomy | |
| Pelvic | 97 (54%) |
| Pelvic + aortic | 43 (24.02%) |
| Mean number lymphadenectomy | |
| Pelvic | 13 (4–24) |
| Aortic | 20 (5–30) |
| FIGO stage | |
| I | 130 (67%) |
| II | 1 (0.5%) |
| III | 43 (22%) |
| IV | 7 (3.6%) |
| Adjuvant treatment | 117 (60.30%) |
| Chemotherapy | 46 (23.71%) |
| External radiation therapy | 10 (5.1%) |
| Brachytherapy | 98 (50.51%) |
| Hormonal treatment | 6 (3%) |
To study different risk factors, the analysis detected different ROC curves for the Tumor Volume parameters with the Tumor Ellipse, Ratio, and ROI, obtaining a cut-off value to be applied in the prediction of lymph node metastases through these different approaches. A cut-off value ≥25 cm3 tumor volume was identified as a predictor of lymph node metastases with a sensitivity and specificity of S72% and E84% and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.82. A cut-off value of 28 of CA 125 classified node lymph metastasis into two groups of high and low risk, through ROC curves with an AUC of 0.81 and sensitivity and specificity of S78% and E80% (Figure 1).
Enlarge this image.FIGURE 1. (A) Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves for the various tumor size measurements for identification of lymph node metastases and (B) ROC curves for Ca125 level to identify node metastases.
Univariate analysis revealed as risk factors significantly associated with node metastases the Histological grade (Grade 3) (p = 0.001), volume index >25 (p < 0.001), LVSI (p = 0.002), and Ca 125 (>28) (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in MRI between patients of age > 60 (p = 0.85) and myometrial invasion ≥50% (p = 0.20). Multivariate analysis confirmed that volume index >25 (odd ratio [OR] 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.09–1.046), Ca 125 > 28 (OR = 0.32; 95% CI 0.03–1.32), and high histological grade (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.1–3.2) were independent prognostic factors to lymph node metastasis. LVSI (p = 0.4) was not a significant independent risk factor for lymph node metastases, therefore, it was not included in the multivariate study (Table 2).
TABLE 2 Univariate and multivariate analysis of factors for lymph node metastasis.
| Node metastases | Univariate analysis | Multivariate analysis | |||
| Variable | No | Yes | p value | OR | p value |
| LVSI invasion | |||||
| Negative | 91 | 4 | 0.002 | 0.104 | |
| Positive | 25 | 7 | |||
| Age | |||||
| <60 years | 39 | 4 | 0.854 | 0.9 | |
| >60 years | 77 | 7 | |||
| Ca125 level | |||||
| Low <28.48 | 97 | 2 | <0.001 | 0.32 | 0.004 |
| High ≥28.48 | 19 | 9 | |||
| Volume index | |||||
| <25.45 | 93 | 2 | <0.001 | 0.64 | 0.007 |
| ≥25.45 | 23 | 9 | |||
| Grade | |||||
| G1/G2 | 100 | 6 | 0.007 | 2.664 | 0.014 |
| G3 | 16 | 5 | |||
| Myometrial invasion MRI | |||||
| <50% | 55 | 3 | 0.2 | 0.817 | |
| ≥50% | 61 | 8 | |||
Based on the analysis of the results, an algorithm was created according to the relationship between the related preoperative significant risk factors (LVSI, G3, Volume Index >25 and CA125 > 28) and the presence of lymph node metastasis. The algorithm stratified patients according to the presence of risk factors. Patients with no significant risk factors did not present lymph node metastases. In cases with one risk factor (Ca125 > 28), the rate was 1.3%, which rose to 20%, 40%, and 80% in cases with two, three, and more than three risk factors, respectively.
Patients with a myometrial invasion ≥50% were then assessed. The algorithm was adjusted with patients with a deep myometrial invasion ≥50%. This risk factor was not significant in the analysis, but it was used to assess the tailored surgery in daily practice. When included, it was observed that its presence did not negatively influence subsequent results. In the population without risk factors (N = 65), 22 patients presented deep myometrial invasion, all of them with no node metastases associated. In the group with only one risk factor (Ca 125), the presence of myometrial invasion was found in only 22 patients, and the presence of lymph node metastases disappeared. In cases with two risk factors, the adjusted rate of lymph node metastases was 20%, which rose to 30% and 50% in the group with three or more than three, respectively (Figure 2).
Enlarge this image.FIGURE 2. Patients and rate of lymph node metastases (LNM) according to the number of risk factors Number of patients and rate of lymph node metastasis (LNM) according to the number of risk factors. CA125 > 28, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), tumor volume (TV) > 25 cm, high-grade tumoral (G3). Adjusted by myometrial invasion >50% (MI > 50%).
Tumor size is a prognosis factor that determines the postsurgery risk classification in EC. According to the Oncology Guide of the Spanish Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, recently updated in 2023, a size >2 cm in the final surgical specimen, together with age > 60 years, high-grade tumor (G3), and extensive LVSI involvement, are poor prognostic criteria that suggest the use of postsurgical adjuvant therapy.18 However, tumor size is not included in the stage and pre-surgery assessment, as in other gynecology tumors, so it is not a determining factor when deciding upon performing lymphadenectomy. The present study shows the introduction of the size of tumor based on the volume as a new risk factor for predicting the nodal status in EC. Of the 65 cases without the established risk factors for affected lymph node, metastasis was found in 0 cases. None of the patients who lacked the established risk factors criteria had lymph node metastasis.
Lymph node involvement is an independent prognostic factor,4 and this has already been shown in the previous analysis with an OR = 3.405 associated with recurrence. The risk of lymph node metastasis in low-risk patients is 3%–5%, while it rises to 20% in high-risk patients.6,19,20 The Mayo Clinic criteria is widely accepted to assess the level of risk of lymph node metastases. Low risk includes endometroid/grade 1–2 histological type, 50% or less myometrial invasion depth, and tumor diameter of 2 cm or less.6 It is known that the presence of lymph node metastasis is essential to plan adjuvant treatment. Lymphadenectomy is indicated in intermediate-high-risk patients, as supported by studies.21–23 However, patients without nodal involvement do not obtain any benefit, resulting in increased comorbidity.24,25 Therefore, an accurate and tailored presurgical risk assessment is needed in order to decide whether or not to perform a lymphadenectomy.
In fact, several studies have previously proposed the criterion for assessing the risk of EC. Mariani6 used the Mayo criteria to select 328 low-risk patients to omit lymphadenectomy, finding a recurrence-free and overall survival at 5 years of 96% and 97%, respectively. However, these criteria were adjusted to the postsurgical findings. Another low-risk criterion for the omission was proposed based on preoperative tests, but the imaging of myometrial invasion and lymph node involvement had a misdiagnosis rate of up to 20% and did not assess the tumor size on imaging.26 The classic criteria were also analyzed in several studies: regarding the depth of myometrial invasion with MRI,6,26 there were misleading cases, and concerning the histological grade of the tumor, there was a difference between the grade determined in the previous biopsy and the hysterectomy specimen.27
The discrepancy between the pre- and postsurgery findings generated the search for new preoperative tools that allowed a correct tailored surgery. Preoperative tumor volume cannot be routinely correlated with definitive histology, but it is a radiological parameter independent of myometrial infiltration. The introduction of ROI as a method of volume measurement is especially useful with tumors given their irregular contour, which does not allow for other traditional calculations such as the ellipse formula. Some authors have recently introduced tumor size in the algorithm through PET imaging,28 but it would require an additional imaging technique, not available in all centers. Finally, there are studies that have introduced volume as an independent prognostic factor for lymph node metastases,28,29 but they have not succeeded in achieving a null rate of lymph node involvement that would allow avoiding the lymphadenectomy safely, and only one of these studies30 proposed an own cut-off point. As for the serum tumor markers, elevation of Ca 125 was significantly associated with poor prognosis in the previous analysis, consistent with what is described in the literature.31,32
Limitations of the study include omitting molecular parameters, recently introduced in the algorithm for the management of EC, as well as omitting the sentinel lymph node since it was not studied in the entire study population and is a source of bias. Also, the inability to correlate the preoperative radiologic tumor volume with the volume of the surgical specimen is considered a limitation.
Based on all the above described, the volume index as a new MRI risk factor was introduced in the present study, finding an optimal cut-off point (<25 cm3) associated with a null rate of lymph node metastases. Myometrial invasion on MRI was not a significant risk factor for node metastasis in the performed analysis, so it was omitted as a risk factor in the strategy. Based on the findings, high-grade tumor, Ca 125 elevated (>28), and Tumor volume on MRI greater than 25 cm3 were considered high-risk factors for node metastasis.
The null rate of node metastasis when the selected risk factors were not present and the low interparameter variability are the main differences with the published literature published to date. Given these findings, a set of criteria that include three elements is proposed: tumor volume < 25 cm3; CA 125 < 28 UI/mL; and preoperative tumor grade 1 or 2. The results of the present study allow applying this proposed algorithm to omit lymphadenectomy on the basis of safe criteria.
CONCLUSIONThe findings of the present study proved, among other facts, that the multivariate analysis confirmed that volume index >25 (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.09–1.046), Ca 125 > 28 (OR = 0.32; 95% CI 0.03–1.32), and high histological grade (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.1–3.2) were independent prognostic factors for lymph node metastasis.
To sum up, the proposed algorithm score may provide useful information for stratification of the risk of node metastasis, and the present findings suggest that lymphadenectomy can be omitted in cases with no risk factors, according to this node metastasis score.
AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONSElga López-González: Conceptualization (equal); data curation (equal); formal analysis (equal); investigation (equal); methodology (equal); resources (equal); software (equal); supervision (equal); validation (equal); visualization (equal); writing – original draft (equal); writing – review and editing (equal). Alberto Rodríguez-Jiménez: Conceptualization (equal); data curation (equal); formal analysis (equal); investigation (equal); methodology (equal); resources (equal); software (equal); validation (equal); visualization (equal); writing – original draft (equal); writing – review and editing (equal). José Antonio Rojas-Luna: Conceptualization (equal); data curation (equal); formal analysis (equal); investigation (equal); methodology (equal); resources (equal); supervision (equal); validation (equal); visualization (equal); writing – original draft (equal); writing – review and editing (equal). Cinta Daza-Manzano: Conceptualization (equal); data curation (equal); formal analysis (equal); investigation (equal); methodology (equal); resources (equal); software (equal); validation (equal); visualization (equal); writing – original draft (equal); writing – review and editing (equal). Juan Gómez-Salgado: Conceptualization (equal); data curation (equal); formal analysis (equal); investigation (equal); methodology (equal); project administration (equal); resources (equal); software (equal); supervision (equal); validation (equal); visualization (equal); writing – original draft (equal); writing – review and editing (equal).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTSFunding for open access: University of Huelva/CBUA.
FUNDING INFORMATIONThere were no sources of funding.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENTThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENTAll data are available within this article.
© 2023. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.
Details
; Rodríguez-Jiménez, Alberto 2 ; Rojas-Luna, José Antonio 1 ; Daza-Manzano, Cinta 1 ; Gómez-Salgado, Juan 3
1 Gynecological Oncology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Universitario Juan Ramón Jiménez, Huelva, Spain
2 Department of Radiology, Hospital Universitario Juan Ramón Jiménez, Huelva, Spain
3 Department of Sociology, Social Work and Public Health, Faculty of Labor Sciences, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain; Safety and Health Postgraduate Program, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Guayaquil, Ecuador