Han G, Lim D, Leitao MM, Abu-Rustum NR, Soslow RA. Histological features associated with occult lymph node metastasis in FIGO clinical stage I, grade I endometrioid carcinoma.
Histopathology 2013;
64:389-98. [PMID:
24215212 DOI:
10.1111/his.12254]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2013] [Accepted: 08/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AIMS
Lymph node involvement affects prognosis/treatment in endometrial carcinoma patients. We assessed various histological features associated with nodal metastasis in patients with grade I, stage I endometrial endometrioid carcinoma (EEC).
METHODS AND RESULTS
Eighteen stage I EECs with occult positive lymph nodes and 36 controls were assessed for depth of myoinvasion; microcystic, elongated and fragmented (MELF) pattern of myometrial invasion; lymphovascular invasion (LVI); and epithelial metaplasia. Nodal metastases were subclassified as isolated tumour cells (ITCs; ≤0.2 mm), micrometastasis (>0.2 mm and <2 mm), or macrometastasis (≥2 mm). Node-positive cases had significantly higher rates of LVI (P < 0.001) and MELF invasion (P = 0.003) on univariate analysis. Only LVI was associated significantly with nodal metastasis on multivariate analysis (P = 0.002). Tumours with MELF invasion demonstrated reduced E-cadherin expression. Macrometastases were identified in seven cases (39%) with or without micrometastasis/ITCs. Eight (44%) contained only ITCs. Eleven (61%) had histiocyte-like nodal metastases. Biopsy material from four of six (67%) and five of 17 (29%) cases with and without nodal metastasis showed detached eosinophilic tumour cell buds. Of the former, three were associated with histiocyte-like nodal metastases - a feature absent in biopsies without tumour budding.
CONCLUSIONS
Lymph nodes from grade I EEC exhibiting cellular budding or LVI should be examined for occult metastases, especially in the form of histiocyte-like cells.
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