Fertility-sparing treatment for low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma: a
retrospective cohort study
Abstract
Background Little is known about the oncologic results of
patients with low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LGESS) with
fertility preservation. This study was to investigate the prognosis of
fertility-sparing surgeries and relevant obstetrical outcomes.
Methods All eligible patients in the study center were
retrospectively reviewed if they consented to surgical treatment for
primary LGESS from February 2012 to June 2019 in the study center.
Follow-up of fertility and oncologic outcomes was carried out until June
1, 2020. Results Among 135 patients accepted surgical therapy
for primary uterine LGESS, 21 (15.6%) and 42 (31.1%) had
fertility-sparing surgery and ovarian preservation, respectively. After
a median follow-up of 38.5 (range 5-98) months, differences existed in
the recurrent rates among patients with and without fertility-sparing
surgery (47.6% versus 15.8%, p=0.002), or with and without
ovarian preservation (42.9% versus 10.8%, p<0.001).
Fertility-sparing surgery and ovarian preservation significantly
increased the recurrent risks in the whole cohort (hazard ratio [HR]
3.5 and 5.2, 95% confidential interval [CI] 1.6-7.6 and 2.4-11.3,
p=0.002 and <0.001) and in stage I patients (HR 2.6 and
3.1, 95% CI 1.0-6.4 and 1.3-7.4, p=0.041 and 0.011). No factor
was found to be associated with increased mortality risk. Among 9
patients attempting pregnancy, 7 (77.8%) achieved 8 live births. Three
advanced stage patients with fertility-sparing surgery all experienced
recurrence without successful conception. Conclusion
Fertility-sparing surgery for LGESS results in a significantly increased
risk of recurrence but not of mortality, and has promising results in
terms of live births in stage I patients.