Endometrial stromal sarcomas : Immunohistochemical, electron microscopical and cytogenetic findings in two cases

• Published in: Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology 1999-04, Vol.434 (4), p.307-314
• Main Authors: GIL-BENSO, R, LOPEZ-GINES, C, NAVARRO, S, CARDA, C, LLOMBART-BOSCH, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Chromosome Aberrations - genetics; Chromosome Banding; Chromosome Disorders; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 20 - genetics; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 - genetics; Combined Modality Therapy; Endometrial Neoplasms - chemistry; Endometrial Neoplasms - genetics; Endometrial Neoplasms - pathology; Endometrial Neoplasms - therapy; Fatal Outcome; Female; Female genital diseases; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Karyotyping; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Electron; Middle Aged; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal - chemistry; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal - genetics; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal - pathology; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal - therapy; Tumors
• ISSN: 0945-6317; 1432-2307
• DOI: 10.1007/s004280050346

Uterine sarcomas are approximately 3% of all malignant uterine corpus tumours. Of these, the tumours that originate solely in the stromal elements of the uterine wall are infrequent and have not been well characterized cytogenetically. We report two cases of endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESS), one low grade and one high grade, diagnosed by conventional histology, immunocytochemistry, electron microscopy and cytogenetics. Morphologically clear-cut differential structures were seen at optical, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic levels, permitting a clear differential diagnosis. The low-grade ESS expressed hormonal receptors and vimentin, whereas the high-grade ESS showed no hormone receptors, high Ki-67 activity, and occasional cytokeratin-positive cells. Ultrastructurally, no malignant epithelial differentiation was seen in the tumour cells, but cilia were found in both cases. Cytogenetic study of the low-grade ESS showed pseudodiploid karyotype with chromosomes 6 and 20 rearranged. The high-grade ESS showed a complex karyotype with clonal numerical and structural anomalies. The chromosomes involved in the structural rearrangements were 1, 3, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, and 21.