Lymphoceles, lymphorrhea, and lymphedema after laparoscopic and open endometrial cancer staging

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of lymphoceles, lymphorrhea, and lymphedema after systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy in patients who underwent laparoscopic or open abdominal staging for endometrial cancer. METHODS: A total of 138 consecutive women who underwent systematic laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy for endometrial cancer staging were compared to 123 historical control subjects staged via an open approach. Postoperative screening for lymphadenectomy-related complications by ultrasound was consistently performed. RESULTS: The incidence of perioperative complications was lower in cases than in control subjects. Overall, lymphoceles were diagnosed in 19 (15.4%) and 2 (1.4%) patients who had open and laparoscopic staging, respectively (odds ratio 12.42; 95% confidence interval 2.82-54.55; P < 0.0001). Symptomatic lymphoceles were more frequent after open staging than after laparoscopy (P = 0.028). Lymphorrhea occurred in 1 and 4 patients after laparoscopic and open surgery (P = 0.19). No difference in the incidence of lymphedema was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that laparoscopic endometrial cancer staging is associated with a lower occurrence of both asymptomatic and symptomatic lymphoceles compared to open surgery.