Minimally Invasive Surgery for Endometrial Cancer
摘要
In recent years, minimally invasive surgeries such as laparoscopic surgery and robot-assisted surgery have become more common than open surgery for uterine endometrial cancer. Fewer postoperative moderate or severe adverse events, shorter hospital stays, less pain, earlier resumption of normal activities, and improved quality of life with this minimally invasive surgery have been reported. In Japan, laparoscopic surgery for early-stage uterine endometrial cancer was introduced as an advanced medical treatment in August 2008; laparoscopic surgery was approved as an insurance-covered treatment for cases suspected of being stage IA uterine endometrial cancer, up to and including pelvic lymph node dissection in 2014; and laparoscopic para-aortic lymph node dissection for endometrial cancer became covered by health insurance in 2020. On the other hand, robot-assisted surgery for early-stage uterine endometrial cancer became covered by health insurance in 2018 and currently has become more common in Japan. In this chapter, we demonstrate the position of minimally invasive surgery at the present time and discuss its limitations in cases of endometrial cancer.