The role of vaginal hysterectomy in the treatment of endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the role of vaginal hysterectomy in the treatment of endometrial cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy for endometrial cancer at the University of South Florida. The medical data were reviewed for medical comorbidities, preoperative and postoperative diagnosis, hospital course, surgical and postoperative complications, adjuvant treatments, and follow-up. RESULTS: Sixty-three women underwent vaginal hysterectomy for endometrial carcinoma between May 1987-September 2006. Mean age was 62.1 years and body mass index [BMI] was 40; 73% of patients were obese (BMI >= 30 or greater). Medical comorbidities included hypertension (76.2%), cardiovascular disease (34.9%), diabetes mellitus (31.7%), and pulmonary disease (28.6%). Eighty-one percent of patients had at least 2 and 55.5% had 3 or more comorbid surgical risk factors. Postoperative complications included infection (4.8%), blood transfusion (11.1%), and prolonged hospital stay (6.3%). Of patients with intrauterine pathology, 89.5% had endometrioid adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: Vaginal hysterectomy may be appropriate treatment of endometrial carcinoma for select patients.