An intraoperative anatomicopathological study of myometrial penetration in endometrial cancer: its usefulness in making decisions on extending the primary surgical treatment

The accuracy of frozen section biopsy was evaluated determining the deep of myometrial invasion in 30 samples of hysterectomies performed because of endometrial cancer. Results were compared with the definitive biopsy. Two sections were performed guided by the site of largest lesion seen when the uterus was sectioned in a frontal plane. The diagnosis of myometrial invasion was well determined in 29 cases with a 96.6% of accuracy. We conclude that frozen section is an exact and low cost method to determine intraoperatively, deep of myometrial invasion. This method helps the surgeon to decide the extent of surgery, specially if lymphadenectomy is necessary, during staging laparotomy.