International federation of gynecology and obstetrics staging of endometrial cancer 1988

Abstract

In 1988, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Cancer Committee changed the staging of endometrial carcinoma from a clinical one to a surgicopathologic one. The emphasis in the new FIGO system was changed to the pathologic findings in the uterus, cervix, adnexa, and pelvic and/or periaortic nodes, and peritoneal cytologic findings. The major changes in this staging system were (1) the use of the depth of myometrial invasion and (2) the identification of tumor cells in peritoneal cytologic examination and of invasion in the retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Preoperative endocervical curettage was no longer necessary. Currently, the high level of operability of patients with endometrial carcinoma makes this staging system a viable one, which will provide information about the need for additional treatment. The use of the grading system for the tumor also was refined to upgrade nuclear changes that were inappropriate for the architectural grade. In serous adenocarcinomas, clear cell adenocarcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas, nuclear grading took precedence. Adenocarcinomas with squamous differentiation were graded according to the nuclear grade of the glandular component.