Synchronous carcinomas of endometrium and ovary

Five cases of synchronous carcinomas of uterine endometrium and ovary are reported. All uterine cancers were typical endometrial adenocarcinomas. Among the ovarian cancers, four were serous papillary cystadenocarcinomas and one was an endometrioid carcinoma. There is much controversy with respect to staging and management of such cases since these tumors may represent either two synchronously occurring primaries or a single primary with metastases. It is suggested that when each tumor is confined within the limits of its tissue of origin the tumors may be considered as two separate primaries and surgery may be less aggressive. When there is evidence that at least one tumor is spreading to adjacent tissues and organs the question of two separate primaries or one metastatic tumor becomes academic only and aggressive surgical treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy is indicated.     

The use of microsatellite instability in the distinction between synchronous endometrial and colonic adenocarcinomas.

The association of endometrial carcinoma with other gynecologic neoplasms, especially ovarian and fallopian tube carcinoma, has been well documented and is usually interpreted as a result of a field defect. Sporadic synchronous primary carcinomas occurring in the endometrium and colon are extremely rare, especially in the absence of the familial genetic abnormalities seen in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma (HNPCC) syndrome, and may present a diagnostic dilemma. Two cases of synchronous adenocarcinomas of the endometrium and colon were studied for genetic abnormalities and differences to test for the presence of two primary tumors. Primary tumors, metastases, and normal tissues were microdissected from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. PCR amplification was performed for microsatellite DNA markers on chromosome 17q and 11q13. The colonic tumors were moderately and poorly differentiated, invasive, nonmucinous adenocarcinomas, whereas one uterine tumor was endometrioid adenocarcinoma and the other was papillary serous carcinoma. Although microsatellite instability, as evidenced by changes in the lengths of the amplified PCR products, was detected at 17q and 11q13 loci in the uterine and colonic neoplasms, the patterns of instability differed between the two primary tumor sites. Moreover, the lymph node metastasis in one colonic tumor had genetic alterations that differed from that of the primary tumor. In both patients, the molecular studies suggested the presence of two synchronous primary tumors. Molecular techniques may assist in distinguishing two separate primaries by determining the contraction and expansion of microsatellite regions in DNA obtained by microdissection from the primary tumors and associated metastases.     

Pelvic hemangiopericytoma. Report of 4 patients and review of the literature.

Review of the literature revealed 42 patients with uterine hemangiopericytoma (HPC) and nine with extrauterine tumors. Three additional patients with uterine and one with extrauterine are described. The primary treatment should be aggressive surgery, but high doses of irradiation and chemotherapy may be of benefit in extensive disease or recurrences. The prognosis of uterine HPC is better than that of the extrauterine tumors. Cells from the extrauterine tumor were grown in tissue culture. The culture consisted of two cell types resembling pericytes and endothelial cells. The cells in culture retain most of the ultrastructural characteristics of the in vivo tumor.     

Co-existence of three rare gynecological tumors in a 79-year-old woman

The occurrence of two primary tumors simultaneously is relatively common. However, the occurrence of three kinds of gynecological tumors simultaneously is extremely rare. Here we presented a 79-year-old woman who had simultaneously three primary gynecological tumors which were relatively uncommon. Those tumors were myxoid leiomyosarcoma and endometrial mucinous adenocarcinoma in the uterus and a Leydig cell tumor in the right ovary. Uterine myxoid leiomyosarcoma is a very rare and aggressive variant of uterine sarcoma despite of its minimal even no atypia and a little mitotic activity. Mucinous endometrial adenocarcinoma is also a rare subtype which comprise only 0.6–5% of uterine cancers. Leydig cell tumor is a very rare ovarian tumor which is composed entirely or predominantly of Leydig cell.     

Epithelioid endometrial and endometrioid stromal tumors: a report of four cases emphasizing their distinction from epithelioid smooth muscle tumors and other oxyphilic uterine and extrauterine tumors.

Three endometrial and one extrauterine endometrioid stromal tumors (three sarcomas and one stromal nodule) with a prominent component of epithelioid cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm are described. The patients were 39, 48, 56 and 86 years of age. The endometrial sarcomas were described grossly as an ill-defined tan nodule and "ragged and papillary," respectively, and had the typical infiltrative pattern of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma. The stromal nodule was a 13-cm, well circumscribed, yellow, fleshy mass. The extrauterine tumor was probably primary in the sigmoid colon. Oval to polygonal epithelioid cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm accounted for 50% to 90% of the tumor cells. The cytoplasm was granular in one case. None of the tumors contained cells with a rhabdoid appearance. Nuclear and other features did not differ from those of usual endometrial-endometrioid stromal tumors except in one case in which there was greater nuclear pleomorphism. There was strong diffuse cytoplasmic immunoreactivity of all four tumors for vimentin and for CD10 in three of three tumors tested, as well as extensive and moderate reactivity for NK1/C3 and focal weak reactivity for CD68 in two of three tumors tested. Muscle actin positivity was very focal to extensive and weak to strong in all three tumors tested, mainly in the epithelioid areas; alpha-smooth muscle actin was focally to extensively positive in the epithelioid areas of two of three tumors tested; and focal strong desmin positivity (interpreted as indicating smooth muscle metaplasia) was found in the epithelioid areas of one of four tumors. A vaginal recurrence in one case had similar cytologic features to the primary tumor but when examined initially in the absence of adequate history posed diagnostic difficulty, as did evaluation of the uterine tumor in two other cases and the extrauterine tumor in the final case. The differential in these cases is primarily with an epithelioid smooth muscle tumor when they are uterine primaries. The typical infiltration facilitates this distinction in the cases of endometrial stromal sarcomas, but this feature is usually only evident in hysterectomy specimens. In limited samples such as biopsy or curettage specimens, and in some cases of recurrent tumor, awareness that endometrial-endometrioid stromal tumors can have epithelioid cells is crucial in the formulation of the differential diagnosis. Diverse oxyphilic tumors, including deciduoid malignant mesothelioma, can potentially be in the differential diagnosis with extrauterine (endometrioid) stromal sarcomas with epithelioid cells. Immunohistochemical evaluation may potentially provide major aid in diagnosis.     

Endometrial stromal sarcomas of the uterus with extensive endometrioid glandular differentiation: a report of three cases that caused problems in differential diagnosis.

Three cases of endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) with prominent glandular differentiation within the primary or recurrent tumors are described. Each case posed a problem in diagnosis and classification. The patients, who ranged in age from 41 to 47 years, presented with abnormal uterine bleeding, a pelvic mass, or a combination thereof. All the patients underwent hysterectomy with or without bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. There was no evidence of extrauterine spread of tumor in any case. Polypoid tumors involved the endometrium in two cases, and in one of them, tumor deeply invaded the myometrium. The tumor in the third case was an infiltrative mass that was confined to the myometrium and its vessels. On microscopic examination, the tumors were low-grade ESSs that contained large numbers of endometrioid glands, which were benign appearing in two cases, and in the third varied from atypical to carcinomatous. In one of the cases in the first group, the glandular component was present only in recurrent tumor excised 10 years after hysterectomy; prominent foci of sex-cord-like differentiation were also present in the recurrent tumor. This patient was clinically free of tumor 27 months later; follow-up in the other two patients was uneventful. ESSs with prominent numbers of benign-appearing glands should be distinguished from adenomyosis, endometriosis, ESSs arising in adenomyosis or endometriosis, ESSs with sex-cord-like differentiation, and müllerian adenosarcomas. ESSs with carcinomatous glands should be distinguished from endometrial adenocarcinomas and malignant müllerian mixed tumors (carcinosarcomas). Extrauterine lesions that have been designated "aggressive endometriosis" may be examples of extrauterine ESS with prominent glandular differentiation.     

The role of lymphadenectomy in uterine leiomyosarcoma: review of the literature and recommendations for the standard surgical procedure

Uterine sarcomas are rare and aggressive gynaecologic malignancies with poor prognosis, arising from myometrial or endometrial tissue. These rare cancers can be aggressive, and account for a greatly disproportionate amount of deaths from uterine cancers. The histological uterine sarcomas classification includes carcinosarcomas (malignant mesodermal mixed tumors), accounting for 40% of cases, leiomyosarcomas (40%) and endometrial stromal sarcomas (10–15%). Each group of these tumors presents differences in diagnosis, prognostic factors, treatment, and outcome. Uterine leiomyosarcomas typically affects women in their sixth decade of life, presenting with atypical symptoms such as abnormal uterine bleeding and abdominal pain. The optimal treatment of uterine leiomyosarcomas is surgery, including total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingooophorectomy. The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature regarding the standard surgical procedure of uterine leiomyosarcomas and investigate whether lymphadenectomy affects the 5-year DSS, as well as other relevant clinical outcomes, in women with uterine leiomyosarcomas. For this purpose, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases were reviewed, and a critical account of the management strategies of these tumors is presented.     

Discordant genetic changes in ovarian and endometrial endometrioid carcinomas: a potential pitfall in molecular diagnosis

Endometrioid carcinoma simultaneously involving ovaries as well as the uterine corpus may present a diagnostic dilemma because of the difficulty in determining whether the lesions are separate primary tumors or metastases. It has been reported that the detection of clonality using microsatellite markers may be useful in solving this dilemma. To determine the usefulness of this technique, we compared the genetic alterations in microsatellite markers present in matched pairs of ovarian tumors from 12 patients. The study includes four ovarian cancer FIGO stage I and eight stage III/IV patients, and four patients also with independent endometrial carcinoma of the uterus. DNA from paraffin-embedded tissue was extracted and amplified using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction, after which the status of microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity in four microsatellite loci (BAT25, BAT26, D17S250, and D5S346) were determined. In the four patients with stage I ovarian cancer, four microsatellite markers were identical in one patient and three were identical in the remaining three patients. In high-stage patients, three markers were identical in at least 4/8 cases. In three of four patients with uterine involvement, three of the four markers were identical in the uterine tumor and one of the corresponding ovarian tumors. These results suggest that genetic discordance does not indicate independent origin or metastasis of the tumor but instead a progression of genetic changes at separate sites probably due to the marked genetic instability existing in these tumors. Because of these discordant genetic changes, great caution should be taken when distinguishing between primary and metastatic tumors on the basis of microsatellite markers.     

Malignant mixed Müllerian tumor with rhabdoid features: a report of two cases and a review of the literature

Rhabdoid tumors were originally described as a type of pediatric renal neoplasm that contains cells resembling rhabdomyoblasts but lacking muscle differentiation. Extrarenal rhabdoid tumors have since been reported in multiple anatomic sites in the pediatric and adult population. These tumors are characterized by an aggressive clinical course, resistance to treatment, and a rapidly fatal outcome. Eight cases of uterine neoplasms with rhabdoid differentiation have been previously reported. In the three cases where clinical follow-up was available, the patients died of disease within 3 to 17 months after the diagnosis was established. We report two cases of uterine malignant mixed Müllerian tumor (carcinosarcoma) with rhabdoid differentiation. The findings and clinical outcome confirm the aggressive nature of uterine tumors with rhabdoid differentiation. One of the patients died of disease 3 months after initial operative treatment while the other patient's tumor recurred in 1 month and she died within 10 weeks. The poor prognosis of these neoplasms makes their histopathologic recognition important.     

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterus: Report of two cases, including one of the spindle cell variant

Abstract. McCluggage WG, Lioe TF, McClelland HR, Lamki H. Rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterus: Report of two cases, including one of the spindle cell variant.
Most uterine sarcomas fall into the category of leiomyosarcoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma, or undifferentiated sarcoma. Pure rhabdomyosarcomas are extremely rare, although a rhabdomyosarcomatous element may be present as a component of an adenosarcoma or carcinosarcoma (malignant mixed müllerian tumor). This report describes two uterine rhabdomyosarcomas in 28- and 67-year-old women. These were of spindle cell and pleomorphic types, respectively. At presentation the pleomorphic rhabdomyosaroma was stage IV, exhibiting massive pelvic and abdominal dissemination that mimicked an ovarian neoplasm. The spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma was stage I, being confined to the uterus. Grossly, both uterine tumors had a polypoid appearance. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells were positive with the skeletal muscle markers sarcomeric actin, myoglobin, and myoD1. The patient with stage IV disease died within a short time of diagnosis and the other patient is alive and well at 2 years' follow-up. This report adds to the published literature on uterine rhabdomyosarcomas. This is the first reported uterine case of the spindle cell variant of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Based on these cases and the published literature, rhabdomyosarcoma, especially the pleomorphic variant, appears to be a very aggressive neoplasm with an extremely poor prognosis. Immunohistochemical demonstration of skeletal muscle differentiation is necessary for a definitive diagnosis.     

Cisplatin, adriamycin and ifosfamide-based combination chemotherapy for gynecological cancers derived from the extended müllerian system.

Their histogenetic similarity suggests that a group of malignant tumors may have a common sensitivity to a cytotoxic chemotherapy. Seventy patients with a variety of gynecological cancers arising from the uterine cervix, endometrium, ovary and pelvic peritoneum were treated with a combination of cisplatin, adriamycin and ifosfamide (PAI). As schedule modifications, PAI plus bleomycin for cancers containing squamous components and PAI plus etoposide for nonepithelial malignancies were recommended. In twenty-five evaluable cases, including 12 recurrent tumors after previous radiation therapy or PAC (cisplatin, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide) chemotherapy, the total response rate was 95% for epithelial cancers (vaginal cancer: 1/1, cervical: 9/10, endometrial: 2/2, ovarian: 6/6 and peritoneal: 2/2), and 100% for nonepithelial malignancies including one uterine leiomyosarcoma, one uterine mixed Müllerian tumor and one extragonadal mixed Müllerian tumor. The survival rates of patients with non measurable lesion were 100% for cervical cancer (the observation period: 65-879 days), 92.9% for endometrial cancer (96-975 days) and 88.9% for ovarian cancer (148-976 days). The hematological toxicity of this treatment was severe but acceptable. The results obtained indicate that a wide range of gynecological cancers originating in the primary and secondary Müllerian tissues (extended Müllerian system) must have a similar sensitivity to cytotoxic treatment with a PAI-based combination chemotherapy.     

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma presenting as distant lymph node metastasis

BACKGROUND: Uterine papillary serous carcinomas are highly aggressive malignancies that often present with high-stage disease. We report two cases that presented initially as distant metastatic disease. One case was found incidentally at the time of axillary dissection for breast cancer and the second case in the workup of a neck mass. CASES: Clinicopathologic review of the patient material including review of routine H&E pathology and immunohistochemical studies of the patients tumors was performed. Both cases showed high-grade papillary carcinomas with psammoma bodies metastatic to lymph nodes in the axilla or neck. Sampling of the endometrium in these patients confirmed primary uterine papillary serous carcinoma. Patients were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Metastatic uterine papillary serous carcinoma presenting initially in distant sites is an unusual manisfestation of this highly aggressive tumor. This tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis when patients present with metastatic high-grade papillary serous carcinomas and the primary site is unknown.     

ERBB-2 gene overexpression and amplification in uterine sarcomas

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine ERBB-2 (HER-2/neu) gene alterations in different subtypes of uterine sarcomas. METHODS: After central review, representative biopsies were immunohistochemically stained and semiquantitatively scored as negative, weakly (1+), moderately (2+), or strongly (3+) positive. Subsequently, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed on cases with 2+ and 3+ expression. RESULTS: Seventy tumors (52 primaries and 18 recurrent) were evaluated. All 10 adenosarcomas, 21 endometrial stromal sarcomas, and 10 leiomyosarcomas were negative both in the primary and recurrent setting. Twenty-two primary carcinosarcomas were scored. The epithelial component was negative/1+ in 16 (73%), 2+/3+ in five (22.5%) tumors, and could not be evaluated in one case (4.5%), whereas the sarcoma component stained negative/1+ in 21 cases (95.5%) and 3+ (4.5%) in one case. In two recurrent carcinosarcomas, the epithelial component stained 3+ in both cases, whereas the sarcoma component scored negative and 1+. Amplification of the ERBB-2 gene as determined by FISH was observed in 3/7 (43%) carcinosarcomas with 2+ or 3+ overexpression, resulting in an overall 3/22 (14%) amplification rate. One out of four undifferentiated uterine sarcomas stained 2+. ERBB-2 immunopositivity (3+) and ERBB-2 amplification by FISH were confirmed in the recurrent tumor, resulting in a gene amplification rate of 1/4 in undifferentiated uterine sarcomas. CONCLUSION: The current results suggest absence of ERBB-2 overexpression in uterine leiomyosarcoma, uterine adenosarcoma, and endometrial stromal sarcoma, whereas the ERBB-2 gene might have a biologic role in uterine carcinosarcoma and undifferentiated uterine sarcomas.     

Mesenchymal tumors of the uterine corpus with heterologous and hematopoietic components: a study of ten cases and review of the literature

OBJECTIVE: To study the histopathological features of mesenchymal tumors of the uterine corpus with heterologous and hematopoietic components, and review their histogenesis and differential diagnosis from other neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions. METHODS: Ten cases of mesenchymal tumors of the uterine corpus, massively infiltrated by hematopoioetic cells, or composed of other benign heterologous elements (adipose tissue in the present cases) were retrieved from the archival files of our laboratory and studied histopathologically. Immunohistochemistry was applied in selected cases. RESULTS: Six of our studied cases were diagnosed as leiomyomas, two as lipoleiomyomas, one as a symplastic lipoleiomyoma, and one as an endometrial stromal tumor. The leiomyomas were massively infiltrated by lymphocytes (5 cases) or eosinophils (one case). Immunohistochemical study of the leiomyomas with massive lymphocytic infiltration revealed the presence of a predominantly B-cell population within the infiltrate, which was polyclonal in nature. The endometrial stromal tumor was severely infiltrated by histiocytes, and was positive for vimentin, CD10, PgR and negative for actin, desmin, ER and caldesmon. CONCLUSION: The presence of hematopoietic or heterologous elements within an otherwise bland uterine leiomyoma or endometrial stromal tumor may give rise to diagnostic difficulties. Regularity of the tumor margins, low mitotic activity and absence of nuclear atypia or necrosis should be established for the exclusion of a malignancy. In the presence of massive lymphocytic infiltration of a leiomyoma the clonality of the infiltrate may aid in differentiating it from a malignant lymphoma. The pathogenesis and clinical significance of these rare neoplasms remain to be clarified.     

Mesonephric adenocarcinoma of the cervix: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Malignant mesonephric tumor arising in the uterine cervix is an exceedingly uncommon variant of cervical adenocarcinoma with only 30 well-documented cases in the literature. CASE: We present a case of a 54-year-old woman with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding who was found to have a stage IB mesonephric adenocarcinoma of the cervix. CONCLUSION: At present there is no consensus on a standardized treatment protocol for malignant mesonephric tumors of the cervix. The present case suggests that a favorable outcome may be achieved for patients with stage IB tumors with aggressive initial therapy.     

Descriptive epidemiology of gynecologic and breast cancers]

The epidemiology of gynecological and breast cancers are better known in France as a result of the mortality data provided by INSERM and the mortality data obtained from the French Tumor Register. Breast cancers are the most common form of cancer in women, accounting for about 30 p. cent of tumors (excluding skin cancers) followed by cancers of the uterine cervix, uterine body and the ovary. The change in incidence shows a definite reduction in the number of uterine cancers over the past 10 years, whereas the incidence of breast cancers is rising by 1 to 2 p. cent per year. Mortality due to breast cancer has risen steadily in France since 1950, particularly in higher age groups. At birth, the risk of developing a breast cancers is 7 p. cent, i.e. one woman in 14 will develop a breast cancer. The figures for cancers of the uterus and ovary are much lower. Survival curves for various types of cancer confirm the steady decline in survival for breast cancers, whereas for cancers of the cervix, uterine body and ovary, mortality rates stabilize after 5 years. The risk of a secondary cancer remains very high for breast tumors, and half the cases of a secondary tumor involve a contralateral breast tumor. In general, there is an increased risk of a secondary cancer after a primary gynecological tumor.     

Diagnostic value of telomerase activity in gynecologic malignancies

Nagai N, Murakami J, Oshita T, Ohama K, Tahara H. Diagnostic value of telomerase activity in gynecologic malignancies. Int J Gynecol Cancer 1998; 8 : 481–488.
We investigated the diagnostic significance of telomerase activity in gynecological malignancies. Tissue samples were obtained from 24 cervical cancers, 27 uterine cancers (22 endometrial cancers and five sarcomas), 33 ovarian cancers (31 epithelial tumors and 2 germ cell tumors), and 11 benign ovarian tumors. In addition, cervical cytology specimens were obtained from 30 squamous intraepithelial lesions (13 low grade and 17 high grade), and from 22 normal females. Telomerase activity was detected using the TRAP assay, and the relative telomerase activity was obtained using the BioMax DNA image analysis system. Telomerase activity was detected in 22/24 (91.7 %) cervical cancers, 23/27 (85.2%) uterine tumors and 30/33 (90.9%) ovarian cancers. Weak telomerase activity was detected in two mature cystic teratomas and also found in 9/17 (52.9%) high grade SIL and 2/13 (15.4%) low grade lesions. Telomerase activity showed no relationship with tumor histology or clinical stage, and there was no statistically significant difference between patients with uterine cancer and ovarian cancer. Relative telomerase activity showed a correlation with the dilution assay, and significantly higher telomerase activity was found in uterine cervical cancer compared with precancerous lesions and in ovarian cancer compared with benign ovarian tumors. After establishment of an assay for telomerase, it may be useful for cancer diagnosis and identification of high-risk groups.     

Racial disparities in histopathologic characteristics of uterine cancer are present in older, not younger blacks in an equal-access environment

Objective

We sought to determine whether racial disparities in tumor characteristics among uterine cancer patients persisted, and varied by age, in an equal-access healthcare population.

Methods

The distributions of tumor histology, stage and grade by race were compared for uterine cancers diagnosed from 1990 to 2003 using data from the U.S. Department of Defense's Automated Central Tumor Registry. Comparisons were conducted overall and stratified by age (< 50, ≥ 50) using the Chi-square test.

Results

Of 2582 uterine tumors identified, 2057 (79.7%) were diagnosed among White women and 183 (7.1%) among Black women. Among all women analyzed, Blacks were more likely than Whites to present with non-endometrioid tumors (47.7% vs 23.5%, p < 0.01), non-localized tumors (31.8% vs 24.5%, p = 0.02), and poorly differentiated tumors (20.5% vs 15.0%, p < 0.01). Among women 50 years and older, similar significant racial disparities were observed. However, no significant racial differences were observed among young patients. When comparisons were restricted to endometrioid histology adenocarcinomas, trends in age-specific disparities for older women were observed.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that racial disparities in uterine cancers persist between Blacks and Whites in an equal-access population. Blacks endure higher stage and grade tumors, and more aggressive histologies. This disparity in clinicopathologic factors is confined to women older than 50 years. Multiple factors such as racial variation in age-related health knowledge/behavior and estrogen metabolism may be related to the racial disparity.     

Aggressive behavior of stage I ovarian mucinous tumors lacking extensive infiltrative invasion: a report of four cases and review of the literature.

Previous studies have indicated that mucinous carcinomas of the ovary associated with extraovarian spread at the time of presentation or follow-up almost always have extensive infiltrative invasion within the primary tumor. We present four cases of stage I ovarian mucinous tumors that lacked extensive infiltrative invasion but were associated with an unexpectedly aggressive behavior. The patients were 18, 20, 41, and 45 years of age at presentation. All four of them presented with an abdominal mass or increased abdominal girth. The tumors were all stage Ia, 17 to 37 centimeters in maximal dimension, and typically multicystic with solid areas. The number of blocks per centimeter of tumor diameter was 0.65, 0.88, 0.92, and 1.0 in the four tumors, respectively, a degree of sampling within that recommended in previous studies. Clinical findings supported that they were primary tumors rather than metastatic from an occult primary tumor. On microscopic examination, the tumors all contained foci of intraepithelial carcinoma and foci of invasion as follows: expansile invasion only (two cases), expansile invasion and microinvasive carcinoma (one case), and microinvasive carcinoma only (one case). The expansile invasion was extensive in each of the three cases in which it was present. On follow-up, each patient experienced recurrent disease 7 months to 4.5 years after diagnosis, including hematogenous spread to lung and/or bone and liver in three patients. Three of four patients developed intraperitoneal spread. Three of four patients died of disease, and one patient is alive with persistent disease. Although ovarian mucinous tumors with only expansile invasion or only microinvasive carcinoma are usually associated with an excellent prognosis, this study indicates that these tumors can rarely behave in an aggressive fashion with hematogenous spread and a fatal outcome. Some of these tumors may have contained unsampled foci of infiltrative invasion. Although the optimum level of sampling in mucinous tumors remains to be determined, we recommend additional sampling of tumors in which the initial sections reveal intraepithelial carcinoma, microinvasive carcinoma, expansile invasion, or combinations thereof.     

Uterine sarcoma: a report of 57 cases over a 16-year period analysis

Uterine sarcomas comprese approximately 4-9% of all uterine malignant tumors with a poor prognosis. We report 57 cases of sarcoma originating in the uterus treated from 1990 to 2006 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Democritus University of Thrace, Greece and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Aschaffenburg Hospital, Germany. The median age of occurrence was 49 years with the commonest symptom being abnormal uterine bleeding. Forty-nine patients underwent a total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy whereas 17 cases underwent radical lymphadenectomy. During the last followup (December 2006), six patients were alive and well with no evidence of disease, 23 patients had died of undercurrent disease, and 28 were alive with recurrence of disease. These rare cancers can be aggressive, and account for a greatly disproportionate number of deaths from uterine cancers. Treatment for this rare disease should be performed according to international protocols in order to have the most updated information.