BREAST CARCINOMA METASTATIC TO UTERINE LEIOMYOMA

Two cases of breast carcinoma metastatic to uterine leiomyoma are presented. A review of literature disclosed fourteen cases of extrapelvic carcinoma with a metastasis to uterine leiomyoma, ten of which were of breast carcinoma. The high incidence of breast carcinoma among such tumors (75%) suggests some intimacy between these two tumors. It is speculated that the common property of their development by estrogenic stimulation may be responsible for the establishment of such an assodation.     

Use of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of miscellaneous and metastatic tumors of the uterine corpus and cervix

Uncommon tumors in the uterus present diagnostic challenges. In some cases, the tumor subtype is usually seen outside the gynecologic tract and the possibility of a uterine primary is not considered. In other cases, histologic overlap with more common uterine tumors leads to potential misdiagnosis. Finally, metastatic carcinoma may involve the uterus and cervix. Rarely, symptoms related to the uterine metastasis may precede diagnosis of an extrauterine primary. Without the proper clinical context, the possibility of a missed diagnosis is increased. One must first be aware of these possibilities, but immunoperoxidase studies are often necessary to confirm the diagnosis. In this review, unusual and metastatic tumors involving the uterine corpus and cervix and immunoperoxidase studies used to diagnosis such tumors are discussed.     

Synchronous uterine carcinosarcoma and contralateral breast cancer after tamoxifen therapy: a case report

Uterine carcinosarcoma (malignant mixed Müllerian tumor, MMMT) is a rare aggressive malignant tumor, which demonstrates both malignant epithelial (carcinoma) and mesenchymal (sarcoma) components. Synchronous uterine carcinosarcoma and contralateral breast cancer in patient received tamoxifen treatment had not been reported. We present a case of uterine carcinosarcoma co-occurrenced with contralateral breast cancer in a 56-year-old nulliparous, obese breast cancer patient, who had been treated with tamoxifen for 5 years. The patient presented with palpable pelvic mass and vaginal bleeding. Histopathological evidence revealed that the tumor was comprised of an admixture of malignant epithelial and mesenchymal components. The epithelial component was endometrioid type adenocarcinoma, while sarcomatous component had heterologous elements including fusiform cell sarcoma and a prominent component of cartilage. The infiltrating ductal carcinoma has been diagnosed on her right breast. The patient died of disease 8 months after diagnosis. Postmenopausal patients, with adjuvant tamoxifen treatment for breast cancer, are at increased risk for the development of uterine carcinosarcoma and less benefit for contralateral breast cancer.     

Undifferentiated and dedifferentiated neoplasms of the female genital tract

Undifferentiated neoplasms in the female gynecologic tract comprise two main groups—undifferentiated carcinoma, most common in the endometrium and ovary, and undifferentiated uterine sarcoma, although tumors with an undifferentiated appearance may occur in all gynecologic organs. Their differential diagnosis is broad and generous sampling, careful morphological evaluation, judicious use of immunohistochemistry, and in many cases, molecular testing is often essential in the diagnostic work-up. As some of these neoplasms fail to respond to conventional chemotherapy regimens and/or radiation therapy, targeted therapy may be valuable in treating these highly aggressive tumors, thus the importance of precise diagnosis. In this review we discuss the clinicopathological features of undifferentiated carcinoma, dedifferentiated carcinoma, and undifferentiated uterine sarcoma, followed by a comprehensive analysis of morphological mimickers. Finally, we briefly review ovarian and lower genital tract tumors with an undifferentiated histological appearance.     

Pure Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix: A Case Report

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is an extremely rare malignancy of the female genital tract with a poorer clinical outcome than squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. We report a case of pure basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. A 70-yr-old woman with vaginal bleeding was referred to our institute. A basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix, of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage Ib1, was diagnosed by a loop electrosurgical excision procedure cone biopsy. A radical hysterectomy was performed, along with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic lymph node dissection, and para-aortic lymph node sampling. Pathologic findings were consistent with a basaloid squamous cell carcinoma confined to the cervix without an extracervical tumor. No further treatment was administered and there was no clinical evidence of recurrence during the 12 months of follow-up. Follow-up for the patient is ongoing. Although basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is thought to behave aggressively, accumulation of data on these rare tumors is necessary to determine whether their behavior differs significantly from that of conventional cervical squamous cell carcinoma of similar clinical stage. These data would be useful for defining the best diagnosis and treatment for these rare tumors.     

Endometrial carcinomas: a review emphasizing overlapping and distinctive morphological and immunohistochemical features

This review focuses on the most common diagnostic pitfalls and helpful morphologic and immunohistochemical markers in the differential diagnosis between the different subtypes of endometrial carcinomas, including: (1) endometrioid versus serous glandular carcinoma, (2) papillary endometrioid (not otherwise specified, villoglandular and nonvillous variants) versus serous carcinoma, (3) endometrioid carcinoma with spindle cells, hyalinization, and heterologous components versus malignant mixed müllerian tumor, (4) high-grade endometrioid versus serous carcinoma, (5) high-grade endometrioid carcinoma versus dedifferentiated or undifferentiated carcinoma, (6) endometrioid carcinoma with clear cells versus clear cell carcinoma, (7) clear cell versus serous carcinoma, (8) undifferentiated versus neuroendocrine carcinoma, (9) carcinoma of mixed cell types versus carcinoma with ambiguous features or variant morphology, (10) Lynch syndrome-related endometrial carcinomas, (11) high-grade or undifferentiated carcinoma versus nonepithelial uterine tumors. As carcinomas in the endometrium are not always primary, this review also discusses the differential diagnosis between endometrial carcinomas and other gynecological malignancies such as endocervical (glandular) and ovarian/peritoneal serous carcinoma, as well as with extra-gynecologic metastases (mainly breast and colon).     

Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome with multiple genital tract tumors and breast cancer: a case report with a review of literatures

We report here on the multiple genital tract neoplasms in a 41-yr-old Korean woman with Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome (PJS). The patient presented with lower abdominal pain. Her previous medical history was PJS and breast cancer. Pelvic ultrasound showed a multilocular cyst at the right adnexal region, diagnosed as bilateral ovarian mucinous borderline tumors. An ovarian sex cord tumor with annular tubules was incidentally diagnosed together with a minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix and mucinous metaplasia of both the Fallopian tubal mucosa and the endometrium. Although the cases of multiple genital tract tumors with PJS has rarely been reported, the present case appears to be the first in Korea in which the PJS syndrome was complicated by multiple genital tract tumors and infiltrating carcinoma of the breast. The clinical significance of the multiple genital tract tumors and breast cancer associated with PJS is reviewed.     

分泌型乳腺癌的临床病理特征

目的：探讨乳腺分泌型癌的临床病理特征、诊断和鉴别诊断要点。方法 ：分析14例分泌型乳腺癌患者的临床病理资料,进行光镜观察,部分病例进行组织化学及免疫组化染色,并复习文献。结果：分泌型乳腺癌临床及病理大体观察与其他类型乳腺癌无明显区别,主要表现为乳房内肿块,多位于乳晕区,大体观察肿物大多连界不清、质地硬,光镜下肿瘤细胞主要排列成实性、小囊性和导管性三种结构,瘤细胞有颗粒性嗜酸性胞质,瘤细胞内外有大量均质嗜伊红PAS阳性分泌物。腋下淋巴结转移较少（2/14）。无局部复发或远处转移（随访3～14年）。结论：分泌型乳腺癌为罕见且预后较好的乳腺癌,确诊必须依靠病理检查。     

What can we learn from the errors in the frozen section diagnosis of pulmonary carcinoid tumors? An evidence-based approach

The intraoperative diagnosis of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors can be difficult. Frozen section diagnosis was requested on 87 neuroendocrine tumors including 58 typical carcinoids, 8 atypical carcinoids, 18 large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas, and 3 small cell carcinomas from 2405 patients that underwent frozen section diagnosis at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center from 2002 to 2007. The deferral and error rate for carcinoid tumors was 4.13% and 7.5%, respectively, and resulted in 4 unnecessary lobectomies and 2 second thoracotomies. The most common errors included misdiagnoses as lymphoma, squamous carcinoma or metastasis from breast carcinoma. Thirty one pathologic features were evaluated in the 66 carcinoid tumors and 10 frozen sections each of lymphoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and metastatic breast carcinoma. Seven pathologic features were significant by chi square test at P > .05. Positive likelihood ratios identified 11 pathologic features that were useful for the diagnosis of carcinoid tumor from other neoplasms. The applicability of the 11 pathologic features was tested with a group of pathologists, resulting in significant improvement in diagnostic accuracy as measured by pre and posttests. The value of evidence-based pathology and Bayesian statistics to evaluate complex differential diagnoses in pathology is discussed.     

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Breast

Twelve cases of pure adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast were reviewed. Patients ranged in age from 34 to 69 years. Seven carcinomas were in the right breast, and five in the left; five of the 12 were located in the central region of the breast, five in the upper outer quadrant, and the two in the upper inner and lower inner quadrants, respectively. Average diameter of the primary tumors was 2.5 cm (range, 0.7 to 6.0). We graded the tumors according to a system used for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland: five tumors were grade I, six were grade II, and one was grade III. An average of 5 years after diagnosis, all patients with grade I tumors were either alive without evidence of disease or had died of unrelated causes. Among the six patients with grade II tumors, one developed a local recurrence 5 years after diagnosis and subsequent pulmonary metastasis, and one died of metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma 13 years after diagnosis. The one patient with grade III tumor had shown metastases in axillary lymph nodes at mastectomy, and she died of disease 2 years later. These findings suggest that the grading of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast may be important in prognosis and treatment selection.     

Lobular carcinoma of the breast metastatic to the oral cavity mimicking polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of the minor salivary glands

The oral cavity is a rare site of metastatic lesions; however, metastatic breast carcinoma must be included in the differential diagnosis of tumors of that site in women. We describe a 54-year-old woman who presented with a lesion of the floor of the mouth that histologically resembled polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of the minor salivary glands, which was eventually established to represent metastatic lobular breast carcinoma. The final diagnosis was based on comparison with a primary tumor resected 13 years earlier and immunohistochemical reactivity with antibodies to steroid receptors. Relevant aspects of lobular breast carcinoma, polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma, and metastatic oral cavity lesions are discussed.     

IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON MYOEPITHELIAL CHANGES IN BREAST TUMORS

Specific rabbit antisera directed against human uterine myosin were prepared and used for immunohistochemical studies on myoepithelial cells (MECs) in some breast tumors. In Abroadenomas, MECs were observed confined to the periductal portions but not in the stroma. In infiltrating duct carcinomas, MECs were also present as a distinctive periductal layer. Moreover, they were also seen in the infiltrating area, either associated with a small nest of carcinoma cells or freely in the stroma. Larger nests of medullary carcinomas usually were not accompanied by any layer of MECs. No MECs were detected in lobular carcinomas as far as the infiltrating area was concerned. It is suggested from these results that the behavior of MECs is significantly different, depending upon the types of breast tumors. It also appears that the present method may be useful for further analysis of the origin and growth pattern in various breast tumors.     

A reappraisal of "basaloid carcinoma" of the cervix,and the differential diagnosis of basaloid cervical neoplasms

"Basaloid carcinoma" of the uterine cervix is a neglected and underrecognized entity that is not included in the current World Health Organization's classification of cervical neoplasms. Historically, this term has been used synonymously with adenoid basal carcinoma (ABC). In recent years, however, it has become evident that a broad spectrum of basaloid cervical neoplasms exist. At one end of the spectrum are low-grade lesions, such as ABC; at the opposite end of the spectrum there are aggressive tumors, including adenoid cystic carcinoma, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, and basaloid squamous carcinoma. The purpose of this review is to revisit the concept of basaloid tumors of the cervix, to define their morphologic spectrum, and to address potential pitfalls in the differential diagnosis. To avoid confusion, use of the term "basaloid squamous cell carcinoma" is recommended when diagnosing a cervical tumor with histologic features of "basaloid carcinoma," as seen in other anatomic sites. A proposed classification of basaloid tumors of the uterine cervix is also presented.     

Value of gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 in distinguishing metastatic breast carcinomas among poorly differentiated neoplasms involving the ovary

Women with breast cancer have an increased risk of developing primary ovarian tumors. Because a differential diagnosis between primary and metastatic tumors may be difficult in poorly differentiated ovarian neoplasms, breast carcinoma markers may be helpful in establishing the primary site of origin. Gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 (GCDFP-15), a well-known marker of apocrine differentiation, has been reported as a highly specific and sensitive breast carcinoma marker. To evaluate the usefulness of GCDFP-15 as a marker for metastatic breast cancer, we have studied, by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique, 14 cases of breast cancer metastatic to the ovary and compared them with 32 primary ovarian tumors and seven cases of ovarian metastases other than breast in origin. Two cases of primary ovarian cancer metastatic to the breast were also included. A strong cytoplasmic immunostaining was found in 10 of 14 cases (71%) of ovarian metastasis from breast carcinoma, and in most cases a characteristic paranuclear staining was noted. All primary ovarian tumors were negative. Ovarian metastases from tumors other than breast and both cases of ovarian carcinoma metastatic to the breast were negative. These results are highly significant (P less than .00001) and demonstrate the value of GCDFP-15 in establishing a primary breast origin among neoplasms of unknown origin involving the ovaries.     

Morphometric characteristics (assessment of ploidy) of the degree of differentiation of uterine body adenocarcinoma

53 histological slides obtained from 4 patients aged 35-68 years with diagnosis of uterine carcinoma without invasion (16 patients) and tumor invasion into uterine muscular membrane (24 patients) were retrospectively analyzed. On the basis of morphometry and ploidometry of 2989 nuclei on the image analyzer Imager-CG (Russia) with a computer program Avtan-San, a complex of diagnostic criteria characterizing the grade of malignancy of uterine tumors was obtained. Differential diagnostic ploidometric characteristics of 4 degrees of tumor progression are described. With the process intensification the amount of genetic material in tumor cell nuclei increase 1.7-fold, proliferative activity 2.2-fold, number of polyploid cells--1.5-fold. These data specify the degree of differentiation of uterine body adenocarcinoma and help to plan treatment policy for patients with uterine carcinoma.     

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of glycogen-rich carcinoma of breast: report of a case and review of literature

Glycogen-rich carcinoma (GRC) of the breast is a rare histological subtype of breast cancer having a poor prognosis. There are very few case reports describing the cytological features of GRC on fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). In this report we present the case of a 34-yr-old woman who underwent FNAC of a clinically palpable breast lump. The aspirate was cellular showing tumor cells in groups, clusters and lying singly. The tumor cells had abundant eosinophilic, finely granular to vacuolated cytoplasm with moderate to marked nuclear pleomorphism. With a cytological diagnosis of carcinoma, a wide local excision was performed. On histology a diagnosis of GRC was made with the tumor cells showing abundant glycogen. The presence of cells with abundant granular to finely vacuolated cytoplasm in a case of breast carcinoma, should point toward the possibility of GRC and other clear cell tumors of the breast. Demonstration of glycogen is required to make a definite diagnosis on cytology.     

From Krukenberg to today: the ever present problems posed by metastatic tumors in the ovary. Part II

This is the second of a two-part consideration of metastatic tumors to the ovary. Here, the matter is considered in 16 categories, largely site-specific. The first tumor discussed is gastric carcinoma of intestinal-type whose ovarian manifestations have been the subject of a recent paper which emphasized its differences from the Krukenberg tumor. Coverage of intestinal adenocarcinoma emphasizes the landmark 1987 paper of RH Lash and WR Hart. The section on pancreatic neoplasms reemphasizes the problems caused by metastatic ductal carcinoma, considered primarily in Part I, and discusses less common issues such as spread of neuroendocrine and acinar cell carcinomas. The limited information on spread of tumors of the gallbladder and extrahepatic bile ducts is then reviewed before more detailed consideration of hepatic neoplasms, prompted by recent contributions on hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, the latter based on significant experience with this problem in Thailand. The section on appendiceal neoplasms highlights ovarian spread of diverse tumors ranging from typical intestinal-type adenocarcinoma to signet-ring cell carcinomas with various patterns which in the ovary may prompt diagnoses such as a goblet cell (mucinous) carcinoid tumor, but whose ovarian features place them in the category of a Krukenberg tumor. The diverse problems in differential diagnosis of carcinoid tumor (provoked by nested, acinar, and other patterns, including folliclelike spaces) are then reviewed. The section on breast cancer emphasizes that, although usually a manifestation of late stage disease and often not bulky in the ovaries, metastatic breast cancer may form large masses which can represent the clinical presentation. That patients with breast cancer have an increased risk of primary ovarian cancer and that the latter is more common than secondary spread of breast cancer is noted. The section on lung tumors largely reflects information in a recent paper that small cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma are the lung cancers that spread to the ovary most commonly. The extremely broad differential diagnosis posed by metastatic malignant melanoma ranging from that of an oxyphilic tumor, to a small cell tumor, to a follicle-forming neoplasm, is then considered. The sections on renal cell carcinoma and other urinary tract neoplasms emphasize the differential diagnosis of metastatic clear cell carcinoma and primary clear cell carcinoma, an issue usually resolvable by an awareness of the various features of the ovarian variant, rarely or never seen in the renal variant. The section on metastatic sarcomas discusses endometrial stromal sarcomas, gastrointestinal stromal neoplasms, and miscellaneous other sarcomas. The endometrial stromal tumors are problematic largely because the history of a primary tumor may be remote, in the ovaries the typical growth and vascular pattern of endometrial stromal neoplasms is not always conspicuous, and some endometrial stromal sarcomas in the ovary show sex cordlike patterns of growth. Recent information has indicated that gastrointestinal stromal tumors may rarely have significant ovarian manifestations and if the primary neoplasm is overlooked, the ovarian tumor may be misdiagnosed, usually as an ovarian fibromatous tumor, but potentially as another primary neoplasm. The sections on ovarian spread of uterine carcinomas emphasize the problems owing to cervical adenocarcinomas, which have a greater tendency to involve the ovaries than squamous cell carcinomas and can simulate primary mucinous or endometrioid cancers. The final neoplasms considered are malignant mesothelioma and the desmoplastic small round cell tumor. The microscopic features of malignant mesothelioma are so different from those of primary ovarian carcinoma in most instances that the diagnosis should be readily established on routine microscopic evaluation. The differential diagnosis of the desmoplastic small round cell tumor is more complex because of the greater overlap with the many other small cell malignant tumors that may involve the ovaries primarily or secondarily. Nonetheless, differences exist in most cases and awareness of the entity should lead to consideration of the desmoplastic neoplasm, particularly in a young female. In this area, as in a number of others considered in the review, immunohistochemistry may play a significant, sometimes crucial, role. However, as pointed out in brief concluding remarks, despite the aid of that modality, as in surgical pathology overall, careful consideration of the clinical background, distribution of disease, gross characteristics and spectrum of routine microscopic findings, will lead to the correct diagnosis in the majority of cases and at the very least lead to formulation of a considered differential diagnosis such that use of special techniques may be judicious and those results placed in context of the time-honored clinical and pathologic features.     

乳腺小管癌29例病理形态学观察

目的探讨乳腺小管癌的临床与病理形态学特点、诊断及鉴别诊断。方法应用光镜观察、免疫组织化学染色等方法对29例乳腺小管癌进行分析,并复习文献。结果肿瘤由开放性小管组成,浸润性分布于增生的纤维间质中,小管由单层上皮围绕构成,细胞形态温和,异型性不明显,核分裂罕见。肿瘤常与小叶性肿瘤、柱状细胞病变、导管不典型增生/原位癌等伴发。免疫组化染色显示小管周围肌上皮缺失或不完整。结论乳腺小管癌是一种形态独特、预后良好的乳腺癌亚型,常与微腺性腺病、放射状硬化性病变、浸润性导管癌等混淆;免疫组化有助于鉴别。     

Carcinoma originating from aberrant breast tissue of the right upper anterior chest wall : a case report

Aberrant breast tissue is usually found in proximity to the normal breast, that is, in the axillary, sternal or clavicular regions. Carcinoma occurs more frequently in the aberrant tissue of the axilla than the extra-axillary site though the overall incidence of tumors of aberrant breast tissue is low. To our knowledge, studies regarding the carcinoma of aberrant breast tissue of the extra-axillary site have been reported rarely. Here we report a recent case of carcinoma originating from the extra-axillary aberrant breast tissue, presenting as a subcutaneous nodule on the right upper anterior chest wall. It is suggested that subcutaneous nodules of uncertain origin around the periphery of the breast should be suspected for breast carcinoma as a differential diagnosis and treated properly.     

乳腺纤维瘤病样梭形细胞癌临床病理分析

目的 探讨乳腺纤维瘤病样梭形细胞癌（fibromatosis-like spindle cell carcinoma,FLSCC）临床病理特征。方法 对3例FLSCC病例进行光镜观察和免疫组化染色[CK、CK（34βE12）、vimentin、SMA、ER、PR、Ki-67、c-erbB-2]。结果 3例均为女性,年龄分别为47、53、56岁,均可触及乳腺肿块。肿瘤境界清楚,但镜下边缘呈浸润性。肿瘤主要是梭形细胞、多边形细胞、少量的管状腺体及鳞上皮巢混合,间质纤维明显增生伴胶原化,细胞成束状排列或散在分布,似纤维瘤病样改变。梭形细胞分化良好,异型性不明显,部分区域细胞较丰富,其间聚集的上皮簇或片状多边形细胞核有轻度异型,可见少数核分裂象。多边形细胞与梭形细胞有移行。病变中亦可见淋巴细胞、浆细胞聚集浸润。上皮细胞、多边形细胞及部分梭形细胞CK（34βE12）、CK（AE1／AE3）阳性,CK阴性的梭形细胞表达vimentin、SMA。3例均行肿块切除,其中1例,术后4个月复发,再行乳腺根治术。结论 乳腺（纤维瘤病样）梭形细胞癌是一种少见的、低度恶性肿瘤,诊断需依赖免疫组化标记并与乳腺其它梭形细胞肿瘤相鉴别。