Introduction To compare long-term oncologic outcomes in women with apparent uterine confined (or early-stage) endometrioid endometrial cancer undergoing minimally invasive surgical (MIS) staging with or without robotic assistance (RA).

Methods We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients with apparent early-stage endometrioid endometrial cancer diagnosed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between January 2008 and January 2018. Clinicopathologic, surgical, and survival data were collected. Appropriate statistical methods were applied.

Results Of 1728 patients, 1389 (80.4%) underwent RA-laparoscopy, and 339 (19.6%) laparoscopy. Median age at diagnosis was 60 years, range (24–92), median body mass index (BMI) at diagnosis was 30.2 kg/m2, range (15.1–71.2). Patient demographics and tumor characteristics were similar in the two groups. Perioperative complications were similar in both groups (9.9% vs 7.7%, p=0.2). A higher proportion of patients in the RA group were discharged on day 0 (19.2% v 5.3%, p<0.001). Median follow-up was similar in the RA vs. laparoscopy group (55.7 months vs 52.9 months, p=0.37). Comparing the RA and laparoscopic groups, the recurrence rate (9.5% vs. 7.4%, p=0.22), 5-year progression-free survival (88.5% vs. 90%, p=0.38), and 5-year overall survival (89% v 89%, p=0.74) were not significantly different.

Conclusion/Implications In apparent early-stage endometrioid endometrial cancers, surgical staging using RA-laparoscopy was not associated with any significant increase in adverse survival outcomes compared to laparoscopy.