Update on surgical treatment for endometrial cancer.

Overview

In the USA, carcinoma of the endometrium consistently ranks as the most common malignancy of the female genital tract. Since the majority of cases present with abnormal clinical symptoms, these patients are typically identified at an early, curable stage when the neoplasm is still confined to the uterus. Surgical removal of the organ involved remains the cornerstone of treatment for this disease, and in light of this, surgery has replaced clinical examination as the staging modality of this malignancy. Surgery also appears to have a role in the management of advanced and recurrent disease. The surgical treatment of this disease is the focus of this review.