Drain-site metastasis observed following surgery and radiotherapy of an endometrial carcinoma figo stage ic patient: Case report

Abstract

Endometrial carcinoma is the most prevalent malignancy of the genital tract. With early diagnosis and treatment, its prognosis is more favorable than other gynecological malignancies. The objective of this case study is to present a very rare condition of a drain site metastasis following the treatment of a low stage endometrial carcinoma.A 63 year old woman was operated for endometrial carcinoma (histological subtype: Endometrioid) FIGO Stage IC (Grade I) and treated with the brachytherapy protocol, postoperatively. During the routine postoperative follow-up exams every three months, she presented with a mass in the right lower abdominal quadrant located at the drain site in the 15th postoperative month. Biopsy sampling of this mass revealed metastatic endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy and eventually surgery was planned forthe resection of the regressed mass.Similar metastatic lesions in gynecological cancers are mostly restricted to high stage ovarian and peritoneal malignancy conditions, and are usually located at trochar port sites and paracentesis puncture points. Nevertheless, this case shows that other early stage malignancies may as well metastasize in a similar fashion and should not be overlooked in the follow-up examinations.