Bilateral malignant Brenner tumor: report of a case with ultrastructural study

Case report of a malignant Brenner tumor with hyperestrogenism

A rare malignant Brenner tumor of the ovary presenting with hyperestrogenism in a 79 year old woman was examined immunohistochemically and by light and electron microscopy. High pre-operative serum and urinary estrogen concentrations, low serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, and histologically confirmed atypical endometrial hyperplasia suggested the presence of hyperestrogenism. The reduction in serum and urinary estrogen and the increase in serum LH and FSH concentrations after tumor removal confirmed that the tumor was synthesizing estrogen. Histologically, the malignant element was predominantly a squamous cell carcinoma. Transitional cell carcinoma was partially found on the cyst wall. There was a spectrum of morphologic changes between benign and malignant elements with an intermediate area with a proliferating Brenner tumor. Immunohistochemically, only the carcinoembryonic antigen was positive exclusively on the malignant element as well as in the microcyst in the benign epithelial cord, whereas all of the markers for germ cell tumors were negative. The ultrastructural features of the stromal cells were of two types: fibroblasts and steroid-producing cells. The latter type of cells might correspond morphologically to estrogen-producing cells. The present case is the fourth report showing a malignant Brenner tumor combined with apparent hyperestrogenism.

Malignant Brenner tumor of the ovary

Three cases of stage III malignant Brenner tumor of the ovary in which chemotherapy or radiotherapy favorably altered the clinical courses are reported, and the literature is reviewed.

Proliferative and malignant Brenner tumours (BT) and their differentiation from metastatic transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder: a case report and review of the literature

Up to now 110 cases of malignant Brenner tumour (BT) and 45 cases of proliferative BT have been reported in the accessible literature. To delineate the diagnostic criteria and to determine the differences between these tumours and metastatic tumours of the urinary tract, 94 cases of malignant BT and 37 cases of proliferative BT were reviewed. The difficulties encountered in determining these differences are illustrated by means of a case history.

Malignant Brenner tumor with peritoneal metastasis

A case of malignant Brenner tumor with peritoneal metastasis in a 67-year-old woman was reported. The multilocular cystic tumor of right ovary was 420 g in weight, and their cystic walls were covered with multilayered tumor cells showing papillary pattern very frequently. The tumor was histologically transitional cell carcinoma with occasional glandular structures but no squamous differentiation corresponding to grade 2 or 3 urinary bladder carcinoma. The pattern of benign Brenner tumor was not identified, but there was some area of proliferating Brenner tumor. Immunohistochemically, carcinoembryonic antigen was detected in several tumor cells, especially in the intercellular spaces among them, and cytokeratin was detected only in some tumor cells. Ultrastructurally, the malignant Brenner tumor shared many common features with the benign one and also bladder tumor. Intercellular spaces with microvilli were frequently found and thought to be important for diagnosis. The morphologic criteria of this rare tumor are discussed.

Malignant Brenner tumor. A histologic, morphometrical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study

The histologic, morphometric, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study of a malignant Brenner tumor in a postmenopausal women presenting with vaginal bleeding is described. A comparison with transitional cell carcinomas is made, and the use of morphometry in grading the urothelial-like epithelium in malignant Brenner tumors is suggested. High preoperative urinary estrogen, low serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and histologically confirmed atypical endometrial hyperplasia suggested a hyperestrogenism. The reduction in urinary estrogen and the increase in serum LH and FSH after tumor removal and the presence of aromatase activity detected in tumor microsomes confirmed that the tumor was synthesizing estrogen. Estrogen receptors were undetectable both by biochemical and histochemical analysis in the tumor.

Ovarian Brenner tumors. II. Malignant

In this study, nine malignant Brenner tumors were reviewed and divided into well and poorly differentiated types. To meet the criteria for malignancy, stromal invasion must be observed. A component of typical benign, metaplastic, and/or proliferating Brenner tumor should be identified. The presence of these latter elements is necessary because the malignant component is often too poorly differentiated to be identified as a Brenner tumor, and a metastatic lesion cannot otherwise be ruled out on pathologic grounds. Well-differentiated tumors often occurred in close relationship to proliferating and occasionally to metaplastic areas, and poorly differentiated ones in relationship to low malignant potential areas. The malignant component may consist of transitional cell, squamous, or undifferentiated carcinoma or an admixture of these. A component of adenocarcinoma may be associated with other malignant elements, but pure mucinous or serous adenocarcinomas would be regarded as separate neoplasms. Although the number of cases is small, the well-differentiated tumors appear to have a better prognosis than the poorly differentiated ones.

Bilateral malignant Brenner tumor of the ovary

The clinicopathologic features of a case of malignant Brenner tumor with bilateral ovarian involvement are described. The tumor was apparently confined within the ovaries at initial laparotomy. However, multiple skeletal metastases developed 4 months later and the patient died of the disease 6 months after diagnosis.