Uterine Mapping for Lymph Node Metastasis in Endometrial Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

AIM: To evaluate the association between uterine tumor localization and lymph node metastasis (LNM) in endometrial cancer through pathological uterine mapping. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 427 patients with endometrial carcinoma who underwent total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and systematic lymphadenectomy. Tumor localization was classified based on a six-site pathological mapping model: isolated lower uterine segment (LUS), LUS + corpus, corpus-only, corpus+fundus, fundus-only, and total uterine cavity. LNM patterns and pathological features were compared across sites. Logistic regression was used to determine independent predictors of LNM. RESULTS: The highest LNM rates were observed in tumors involving the LUS + corpus (37.0%) and total uterine cavity (32.4%), whereas the lowest rate was seen in corpus-only tumors (10.2%) (p < 0.001). Tumors in high-risk sites featured significantly higher rates of deep myometrial invasion, substantial LVSI, and high-grade histology. In multivariate analysis, substantial LVSI (OR: 9.2, p < 0.001), any LUS involvement (OR: 2.6, p = 0.001), aggressive histology (OR: 2.1, p = 0.017), and BMI (OR: 1.08, p = 0.025) independently predicted LNM. CONCLUSIONS: Pathological uterine mapping reveals that LUS involvement is an independent risk factor for lymphatic dissemination in endometrial cancer. Tumor site classification may enhance preoperative risk stratification and guide individualized surgical strategies.