Endometrial Carcinoma in Portugal: Demographic, Diagnostic and Treatment Changes in the Last 5 Decades

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Bartosch, C (Author) Other; Gomes, B (Author) Other; Carmen Jeronimo (Author) ICBAS; Lopes, JM (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: International Journal of Gynecological Pathology

Vol. 34

Pages: 159-168

ISSN: 0277-1691

Publisher: Wolters Kluwer Health

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 3 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00A-7BW

DOI: 10.1097/pgp.0000000000000124

Abstract (EN): Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is nowadays the most frequent gynecologic malignancy. Incidence is increasing, but studies characterizing the changes in demographics, diagnosis, and treatment over the years are scarce. We performed a retrospective observational study of a consecutive series of EC patients (n = 188) diagnosed at a Portuguese tertiary hospital between 2000 and 2010. Clinical data were reviewed, and pathologic material was reevaluated according to the current diagnostic and staging guidelines. In addition, we performed a comprehensive PubMed and IndexRMP search that identified 2 previous Portuguese endometrial cancer studies: Study 1 referred to cases from 1963 to 1968 (n = 260) and Study 2 to cases from 1991 to 1993 (n = 57). Results from the present and the previous studies were compared. An increased proportion (present study vs. Study 1/Study 2) of elderly women (70.2% vs. 55.0%/57.0%) as well as comorbidities like obesity (54.3% vs. 44.2%/36.4%), hypertension (66.4% vs. 33.8%/42.1%), and diabetes (29.8% vs. 18%/8.7%) was observed over the years. There was a trend (present study vs. Study 1) to increased use of surgical staging (surgery 90.4% vs. 78.2%; lymphadenectomy 27.7% vs. 16.9%) and decreased use of radiotherapy (52.7% vs. 89.6%). The overall 5-yr survival in our series (78.4%) was better than that in Study 1 (57.3%; absent in Study 2). This study provides a perspective of the endometrial cancer epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment changes that occurred in Portugal during the last 5 decades, these most probably reflecting what happened in other European countries. Substantial improvement in diagnosis and treatment of EC ensued, having a positive impact on survival, even though nowadays patients are older and with additional comorbidities.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10