Sex cord tumor with annular tubules in a young adolescent with Von Willebrand's disease

[Sex cord tumors with annular tubules: About 4 cases and literature review]

Sex cord tumor with annular tubules (SCTAT) is a rare ovarian tumor. It belongs to sex cord and stromal tumor of the ovary and represents less than 1% of cases. It includes two forms: the first one associated with Peuz-Jeghers syndrome and the second sporadic. We report 4 cases of SCTAT collected at the department of pathology of Salah Azaiez Institute of Tunis over the 12 last years. The age ranged from 10 to 32 years. Symptoms were non specific except for one case revealed by precocious puberty. One patient had Peutz-Jeghers syndrome associated. Tumors were unilateral. Gross findings showed often a solid tumor with yellow cut surface. Their size ranged from 0.5cm to 28cm. Their morphological features were characteristic. Immunohistochemistry showed that tumor cells expressed inhibin and claretinin. The treatment was surgical, often conservative. The diagnosis of malignancy wasn't focused on histological features, but on tumor extension, clinical course, and presence of metastases. Evolution was often favorable. We also performed a systematic review of the literature that identified 166 cases. Features of these cases were studied. We also compared these features between sporadic and syndromic forms and between benign and malignant forms. In conclusion, SCTAT is a rare tumor, usually benign. Its diagnosis is based on histological examination. There is a malignant potential especially in sporadic forms, estimated at 20%. Treatment is most often conservative, based on oophorectomy.

Management and prognosis of patients with ovarian sex cord tumor with annular tubules: a retrospective study

Background

Owing to the rarity of sex cord tumor with annular tubules (SCTAT), it is difficult to recognize SCTAT clinically and there is no standard treatment. The aim of our study was to investigate the treatment outcomes and prognosis of patients with ovarian SCTAT.

Methods

A cohort of 13 patients with SCTAT diagnosed and treated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital was studied. Data on clinicopathological characteristics, treatment, and prognosis were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.

Results

SCTAT accounted for 1.4% of ovarian sex cord stromal tumors, with an average onset age of 22.6 years. All patients presented with menstrual disturbances or isosexual precocity at disease onset. Initial surgery was unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in 11 cases. Recurrence rate was 46.2%, and 38.5% of patients experienced multiple recurrences. The disease free interval gradually shortened with increasing numbers of recurrences. Recurrent tumors were mostly ipsilateral to the primary tumor and located in retroperitoneum. Surgery remained the main treatment for recurrent cases. Serum estradiol and progesterone levels usually elevated at disease onset, decreased dramatically after operation, and they elevated again with the development of recurrence. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 97.8 months, and the 1-year and 5-year PFS were 92% and 67%, respectively. Five-year overall survival (OS) was 100%.

Conclusions

Unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is a feasible treatment for primary SCTAT cases with intact capsules and without PJS. Complete tumor resection is suggested for recurrent cases and long-term follow-up is strongly recommended. Despite the high risk of recurrence, SCTAT prognosis is relatively favorable.

von Willebrand factor and cancer: a renewed interest

Von Willebrand factor (VWF), the largest human plasma protein, is an adhesive multimeric glycoprotein that mediates platelet adhesion to both the subendothelial matrix and endothelial surfaces and acts as a carrier for coagulation factor VIII in the circulation. Besides its essential role in hemostasis, there is growing evidence from the literature that VWF has an additional antitumor effect, mainly by exerting negative modulation on angiogenesis and apoptosis. Current knowledge on the link between VWF and cancer is summarized in this review, based on an analysis of the most important experimental and clinical studies.

Giant multilocular sex cord tumor with annular tubules associated with precocious puberty

We report a case of sex cord tumor with annular tubules featuring a giant multilocular cyst, grossly similar to cystadenoma, in the ovary of an 8.5 year old girl. Estrogen-related symptoms, including precocious puberty and irregular uterine bleeding, immediately improved after tumor resection.

Imaging of pediatric ovarian neoplasms

We review the clinical and imaging characteristics of the most common ovarian neoplasms in children and adolescents. Because of the widespread use of diagnostic imaging, incidental ovarian neoplasms might be encountered during the evaluation of abdominal pain, trauma or other indications and might pose a diagnostic dilemma. Conducting adequate imaging studies under these conditions is important, as management strategies differ according to the size and appearance of the lesion as well as the age of the patient. US dominates in gynecological imaging because of its excellent visualization, absence of ionizing radiation and sedation risks and comparatively low cost. For further examination of indeterminate lesions found using US, MRI is being used more progressively in this field, particularly for the evaluation of complex pelvic masses with the aim of distinguishing benign and malignant conditions and conditions requiring surgical intervention. CT is reserved primarily for tumor staging and follow-up and for emergency situations.