The use of hysteroscopic endometrectomy in the conservative treatment of early endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia in fertile women.

OBJECTIVE

To illustrate the effectiveness of hysteroscopic endometrial resection in conservative treatment of early endometrial cancer/atypical hyperplasia in women of reproductive age.

METHODS

Review of outcomes of women of reproductive age who underwent fertility sparing treatment (hysteroscopic superficial endometrectomy followed by progestin therapy) in early endometrial cancer.

RESULTS

Eight women with Stage I endometrial cancer and three with atypical endometrial hyperplasia underwent hysteroscopic superficial endometrial resection, followed by 1-year treatment with oral megestrol acetate. One patient had a synchronous endometrioid ovarian carcinoma. One patient with Grade 2 carcinoma opted for conservative treatment and had hysterectomy 3 months later for persisting disease. Ten patients showed no evidence of residual disease during a 12-month follow-up period with regular hysteroscopy. Five patients had seven pregnancies without assisted reproductive technology. One patient got pregnant after one attempt of in-vitro fertilization and oocyte donation. Pregnancy rate was 54.5%; two patients had two successful pregnancies and deliveries. Average time to pregnancy was 16 months from the end of treatment. All babies were delivered vaginally.

CONCLUSION

Total superficial endometrial resection followed by progestin can be considered in patients with early endometrial cancer/atypical hyperplasia who still want to conceive. It does not seem to impair fertility nor pregnancy outcomes in women of reproductive age.