Prognosis in pre-and postmenopausal patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma

The prognosis in 41 pre- and 143 postmenopausal patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma during two time periods were compared. A significantly shorter interval from 1st symptom to diagnosis was found in postmenopausal patients. The percent of patients diagnosed in stage I did not differ significantly between the two groups, but there was a significant, although small, excess of postmenopausal patients diagnosed in stages III-IV. A significantly more favourable survival in premenopausal patients was found and the same trend was observed when the effect of age, stage at diagnosis and operability were taken into consideration. The possibility that this could be related to hormonal and immunological factors is raised. A significantly better survival of patients diagnosed during the second period was observed and is attributed to improved planning and methods of treatment.