Impact of lymph node staging techniques on lymphedema and quality of life in early-stage endometrial cancer: A prospective cohort study

Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is increasingly replacing complete pelvic lymphadenectomy (CL) for staging early-stage endometrial cancer (EC), but its long-term impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL) and lymphedema remains underexplored. Objective: To compare overall health percepti...

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Main Authors: Anna Torrent, Joana Amengual, Angela Ruiz, Aina Serra, Laura Fuertes, Catalina Maria Sampol, Mario Ruiz, Jorge Rioja, Pilar Roca, Octavi Cordoba
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Gynecologic Oncology Reports
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352578925001444
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author Anna Torrent
Joana Amengual
Angela Ruiz
Aina Serra
Laura Fuertes
Catalina Maria Sampol
Mario Ruiz
Jorge Rioja
Pilar Roca
Octavi Cordoba
author_facet Anna Torrent
Joana Amengual
Angela Ruiz
Aina Serra
Laura Fuertes
Catalina Maria Sampol
Mario Ruiz
Jorge Rioja
Pilar Roca
Octavi Cordoba
author_sort Anna Torrent
collection DOAJ
description Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is increasingly replacing complete pelvic lymphadenectomy (CL) for staging early-stage endometrial cancer (EC), but its long-term impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL) and lymphedema remains underexplored. Objective: To compare overall health perception (oHP), health-related QoL (HRQoL), and symptomatic lymphedema in patients staged with SLN versus CL. Secondary objectives included the assessment of symptomatic lymphedema and surgical complications. Methods: We conducted a prospective single-center observational study including 97 patients treated early-stage EC, with 50 undergoing SLN plus CL and 47 undergoing SLN only. Patients completed EQ-5D-3L, oHP scale (0–100), and the self-reported lower-extremity lymphedema questionnaire (LELQ) at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Multivariate analysis adjusted for confounders including surgical approach and adjuvant therapy. Results: At 6 months, the SLN group reported significantly better oHP (median 85 vs. 70; p = 0.001) and HRQoL impairment (median score 5 vs. 7; p = 0.001) than the CL group. Symptomatic lymphedema (LELQ > 5) was significantly lower in the SLN group (7.0 %) than in the CL group (34.4 %, p = 0.002). No significant differences in intra- or postoperative complications were observed. Conclusion: SLN biopsy was associated with improved QoL and lower incidence of lymphedema compared to complete lymphadenectomy. These findings support the use of SLN mapping as the preferred nodal staging technique to minimize morbidity and enhance survivorship outcomes in early-stage EC patients.
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spelling doaj-art-71b74dc0d8c54ccf81f7ae4bbaee81c92025-08-21T04:17:17ZengElsevierGynecologic Oncology Reports2352-57892025-08-016010191910.1016/j.gore.2025.101919Impact of lymph node staging techniques on lymphedema and quality of life in early-stage endometrial cancer: A prospective cohort studyAnna Torrent0Joana Amengual1Angela Ruiz2Aina Serra3Laura Fuertes4Catalina Maria Sampol5Mario Ruiz6Jorge Rioja7Pilar Roca8Octavi Cordoba9Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, 707120 Palma, Spain; School of Medicine, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), 07120 Palma, Spain; Institut d’Investigació Sanitària de les Illes Balears, IdISBa, 07120 Palma, SpainGynecologic Oncology Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, 707120 Palma, Spain; School of Medicine, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), 07120 Palma, Spain; Institut d’Investigació Sanitària de les Illes Balears, IdISBa, 07120 Palma, Spain; Corresponding author.Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, 707120 Palma, SpainObstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Comarcal Inca (HCIN), SpainGynecologic Oncology Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, 707120 Palma, SpainDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, 07120 Palma, SpainGynecologic Oncology Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, 707120 Palma, SpainGynecologic Oncology Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, 707120 Palma, SpainDepartment of Biology and Molecular Biology, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), 07122 Palma, Spain; Institut d’Investigació Sanitària de les Illes Balears, IdISBa, 07120 Palma, SpainGynecologic Oncology Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, 707120 Palma, Spain; School of Medicine, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), 07120 Palma, Spain; Institut d’Investigació Sanitària de les Illes Balears, IdISBa, 07120 Palma, SpainBackground: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is increasingly replacing complete pelvic lymphadenectomy (CL) for staging early-stage endometrial cancer (EC), but its long-term impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL) and lymphedema remains underexplored. Objective: To compare overall health perception (oHP), health-related QoL (HRQoL), and symptomatic lymphedema in patients staged with SLN versus CL. Secondary objectives included the assessment of symptomatic lymphedema and surgical complications. Methods: We conducted a prospective single-center observational study including 97 patients treated early-stage EC, with 50 undergoing SLN plus CL and 47 undergoing SLN only. Patients completed EQ-5D-3L, oHP scale (0–100), and the self-reported lower-extremity lymphedema questionnaire (LELQ) at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Multivariate analysis adjusted for confounders including surgical approach and adjuvant therapy. Results: At 6 months, the SLN group reported significantly better oHP (median 85 vs. 70; p = 0.001) and HRQoL impairment (median score 5 vs. 7; p = 0.001) than the CL group. Symptomatic lymphedema (LELQ > 5) was significantly lower in the SLN group (7.0 %) than in the CL group (34.4 %, p = 0.002). No significant differences in intra- or postoperative complications were observed. Conclusion: SLN biopsy was associated with improved QoL and lower incidence of lymphedema compared to complete lymphadenectomy. These findings support the use of SLN mapping as the preferred nodal staging technique to minimize morbidity and enhance survivorship outcomes in early-stage EC patients.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352578925001444
spellingShingle Anna Torrent
Joana Amengual
Angela Ruiz
Aina Serra
Laura Fuertes
Catalina Maria Sampol
Mario Ruiz
Jorge Rioja
Pilar Roca
Octavi Cordoba
Impact of lymph node staging techniques on lymphedema and quality of life in early-stage endometrial cancer: A prospective cohort study
Gynecologic Oncology Reports
title Impact of lymph node staging techniques on lymphedema and quality of life in early-stage endometrial cancer: A prospective cohort study
title_full Impact of lymph node staging techniques on lymphedema and quality of life in early-stage endometrial cancer: A prospective cohort study
title_fullStr Impact of lymph node staging techniques on lymphedema and quality of life in early-stage endometrial cancer: A prospective cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Impact of lymph node staging techniques on lymphedema and quality of life in early-stage endometrial cancer: A prospective cohort study
title_short Impact of lymph node staging techniques on lymphedema and quality of life in early-stage endometrial cancer: A prospective cohort study
title_sort impact of lymph node staging techniques on lymphedema and quality of life in early stage endometrial cancer a prospective cohort study
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352578925001444
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