Objective: To study the characteristics and clinical features of endometrial carcinoma occurred after pelvic irradiation.
Methods: Clinical data of 27 cases of endometrial carcinoma occurred after irradiation for cervical cancer were reviewed, estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status were studied in 17 cases by immunohistochemistry.
Results: The incidence of endometrial carcinoma occurred following pelvic irradiation was 0.19%. The mean age of patients was 63 year old. The mean incubation period from pelvic irradiation to diagnosis of the disease was 15.6 years. The proportion of advanced cases was 51.9% (14/27). The expression of ER and PR was very low (11.8%, 2/17). The original sites of 5 cases with stage I were in fundus or corner of the uterus, which received lower dose irradiation formerly. Operation was the best choice of treatment, 19 out of 27 cases received this modality. The survival rate of 3 and 5 year was 56.8%, 37.8%, respectively.
Conclusion: The incidence of endometrial carcinoma occurred following pelvic irradiation for cervical cancer was higher than that of cancer occurred spontaneously, the proportion of advanced cases was high, the expression of ER and PR was very low, operation was the mainly method of treatment. The prognosis was poorer than that of spontaneous disease.