The lymphatic dissemination in endometrial carcinoma. A study of 188 necropsies.

To more clearly define the biologic activity of endometrial carcinoma, 188 cases selected at random were studied at necropsy. In 51 per cent of the cases death was attributed to the endometrial carcinoma. Observations demonstrate that dissemination is more scattered and less predictable than noted in cervical cancer; that the biologic potential is not invariably based on the site of the primary lesion, the depth of invasion, or the histologic differentiation. Difficulties in performing a thorough examination of the lymphatic system in this series include the increased age of the patients and a higher incidence of medical diseases and surgical procedures. The reported data illustrate the erratic natural history of the disease but do not permit the factual incidence of node or organ involvement. However, the potential viciousness of the disease is clearly demonstrated.