The Malzoni Cancer Center of the Malzoni Research Hospital is recognized as a European Center of Excellence for Endometrial Cancer Surgery. The recognition is from the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology (ESGO).

This recognition, for the five-year period 2023-2028, is the exclusive prerogative of eight centers in Europe, four of which are in Italy (Avellino – Malzoni Research Hospital, Bologna – IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Policlinico Sant’Orsola, Rome – Agostino Gemelli University Hospital, Varese – University of Insubria).

Endometrial cancer represents approximately 6% of female tumors in Italy, and with approximately 10,200 cases per year (2022 data) it is the third most frequent neoplasm in women between 80 and 69 years of age, often linked to obesity, and with an average 5-year survival of approximately 79%.

There are many oncology centers that deal with the treatment of this pathology, very few are the centers defined as centers of excellence. The achievement of this recognition was possible thanks to the respect of extremely stringent criteria, regarding not only the volume of cases treated, but also the adherence to quality indicators including: scientific publications, participation in research protocols, use of cutting-edge surgical technologies, rates of intra- and post-operative complications, completeness in the anatomo-pathological and molecular evaluation defila neoplasia.

Specifically, the elements that contributed most to the awarding of the Excellence certification to Casa di Cura Malzoni were the following:

• >300 cases treated in the three-year period 2020-22;
• >80% of cases treated with laparoscopic technique, including patients with severe obesity;
• in no case is there any need to convert from the laparoscopic technique to the traditional laparotomic one;
• 93% of lymph node staging performed using the sentinel lymph node technique;
• 100% of sentinel lymph nodes analyzed by ultrastaging;
• 94% of cases underwent complete molecular prognostic classification;
• participation in international prospective scientific studies.

The achievement of these requirements is the result of Casa di Cura Malzoni’s commitment in the field of Gynaecological Oncology for over 50 years, and of the constant updating that this sector requires in order to guarantee patients excellence in the quality of care.

The facility is also an integral part of the ROC (Campania Oncology Network), within which it stands out for having largely exceeded the inclusion criteria, not only for endometrial cancer but also and above all for the treatment of advanced forms of ovarian, cervical and vulvar neoplasms.

“We operate on approximately 110 patients with endometrial cancer every year,” explains Professor Mario Malzoni, “80% of whom use a laparoscopic approach, which allows for a quicker postoperative recovery with a consequent reduction in hospital stay (an average of two days), less intraoperative blood loss and the possibility of widespread use of the sentinel lymph node technique with the latest-generation 3D/4K technology. This method has represented a turning point in this type of surgery, allowing us to avoid the systematic removal of the pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes and therefore the complications (lymphorrhea, lymphedema, lymphoceles) often associated with the performance of a lymphadenectomy.

In addition to the surgical technique, essential for successful treatment are: the preoperative evaluation of patients by the GOM (Multidisciplinary Oncology Group) for the appropriate classification of cases, and the experience and accuracy in the anatomopathological evaluation that is central to the indication for any subsequent or alternative therapies to surgery. In particular, the technique of ultrastaging of the sentinel lymph node consists of an extremely accurate evaluation of the same, with the possibility of identifying even any small-volume metastases that could escape a traditional histological examination.

Another key element in the management of this neoplasm is the molecular/genetic evaluation, which allows to precisely define the patient’s prognostic risk, both in terms of the probability of recurrence of the endometrial tumor, and in terms of the correlation of the latter with other tumors in the context of hereditary-familial neoplastic syndromes. This allows the implementation of diagnostic/preventive strategies against other tumors, with significant advantages for both the patient and her family members”.

The recognition of “ESGO Center of Excellence” is therefore an important achievement that rewards the commitment of a multidisciplinary team affiliated with the Gynecological Oncology Center (Malzoni Cancer Center) of the Malzoni Nursing Home in Avellino.