Laparoscopic surgery vs laparotomy for early stage endometrial cancer: long-term data of a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to compare the long-term safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery and laparotomy approaches to early stage endometrial cancer.STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective long-term extension study of a randomized controlled study that included 84 patients with clinical stage I endometrial cancer (laparoscopic surgery group, 40 women; laparotomy group, 38 women). Safety and efficacy data were evaluated and analyzed by the intention-to-treat principle.RESULTS: After a follow-up period of 78 months (interquartile range, 7; range, 19-84 months) and 79 months (interquartile range, 6; range, 22-84 months) for laparoscopic surgery and laparotomy groups, respectively, no difference in the cumulative recurrence rates (8/40 [20.0%] and 7/38 [18.4%]; P = .860)and deaths (7/40 [17.5%] and 6/38 [15.8%] patients; P = .839) was detected between groups. No significant differences in overall (P = .535) and disease-free (P = .512) survival were observed.CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic surgery approach to early stage endometrial cancer is as safe and effective a procedure as the laparotomy approach.