Endometrial carcinoma: treatment of positive paraaortic nodes.

From 1974 to 1979, 138 patients who were treated for endometrial carcinoma underwent pelvic and paraaortic node dissection. Eighteen patients had positive paraaortic nodes (12.5%). Eleven out of twelve patients with microscopic disease and five out of six patients with gross disease received 5000 XRT to the paraaortic region as well as 4500 XRT to the pelvis. Megace at a dose of 160 mg daily was also given. Five-year survival rates were as follows: 66.7% (8/12) for microscopic disease, 16.7% (1/6) for gross disease. For Stage I microscopic disease, 66.5% (5/8), for Stage I gross disease 0% (0/4). For Stage II microscopic disease 66.7% (2/3) and for Stage II gross disease 50% (1/2). External RT to the paraaortic nodes appears to be beneficial for patients with microscopic disease in Stage I and Stage II endometrial carcinoma with minimal complications.