Risk of incidental finding of endometrial cancer at the time of hysterectomy for benign condition

Abstract

Study objective: To assess the risk of unanticipated endometrial carcinoma during hysterectomy to treat a presumed benign condition.

Design: Retrospective analysis (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting: Tertiary referral center, university hospital.

Patients: All women who underwent hysterectomy to treat presumed benign indications at our center from January 2000 to December 2011 were identified. We analyzed all pathologic reports and identified cases of unexpected endometrial carcinoma.

Interventions: Hysterectomy by any approach to treat presumed benign indications.

Measurements and main results: At our institution, 2179 hysterectomies were performed to treat presumed benign indications. Nine (0.4%) revealed unexpected endometrial carcinoma (95% confidence interval, 0.2-0.7).

Conclusion: Our data suggest that the rate of unanticipated endometrial carcinoma during hysterectomy to treat benign conditions is low.

Keywords: Endometrial carcinoma; Hysterectomy; Unanticipated.