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Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer: Radiation—Less May Be More

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Part of the book series: Current Clinical Oncology ((CCO))

Abstract

Due to its documented efficacy in improving locoregional control and reducing rates of vaginal vault recurrence, radiation therapy has been used as an adjunct to surgical intervention for the last 5 decades. Several randomized studies have established the role of adjuvant radiotherapy in decreasing local recurrence among patients at intermediate to high risk of local failure. External beam radiotherapy achieves local control at the cost of some morbidity but does not influence overall survival. Intracavitary brachytherapy has emerged as an alternative to external beam radiotherapy due to its overall lower morbidity. Trials are ongoing to determine the potential added benefit of chemotherapy to radiation therapy as well as to explore lower brachytherapy doses in early stage disease. For management of high risk, more advanced stage disease and carcinosarcoma, please see Chaps. 10, 11, and 13, respectively.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The staging in this chapter reflects the 1988 FIGO staging system unless otherwise noted. However, it is important to know that the following changes were made in the 2009 FIGO staging system: (1) Stage IC was eliminated. Stage IA now represents <50 % myometrial invasion and Stage IB represents ≥50 % myometrial invasion. (2) The designations, Stage IIA and IIB were eliminated. Stage II now represents cervical stromal invasion. (3) Peritoneal washings are no longer factored into disease staging. Stage IIIC disease now consists of Stage IIIC1 (pelvic lymph node involvement) and IIIC2 (para-aortic lymph node involvement).

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Correspondence to Peter B. Schiff .

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Balogun, O., Lymberis, S., Schiff, P.B. (2015). Early-Stage Endometrial Cancer: Radiation—Less May Be More. In: Muggia, F., Santin, A.D., Oliva, E. (eds) Uterine Cancer. Current Clinical Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/7631_2015_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/7631_2015_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-47267-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-47269-0

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