Multifocal low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma arising from pre-existing endometriosis in a hysterectomised patient: a case report

Prognosis of uterine and extrauterine low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma: an observational cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Little is known about the survival differences between uterine and extrauterine low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LGESS). Survival outcomes, consisting of disease-free survivals and overall survivals (OS), were compared in these two entities.

METHODS

From February 2012 to June 2019, all primary LGESS cases and LGESS cases with first recurrence in the study center were reviewed. The clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes of extrauterine and uterine LGESS patients were compared for both primary and recurrent diseases.

RESULTS

During the study period, 143 patients with primary LGESS and 56 patients with recurrent LGESS were included and followed up to 1 June 2020, among whom 8 (5.6%) and 10 (17.8%) patients were identified as having extrauterine LGESS. Patients with primary and recurrent extrauterine LGESS had similar clinicopathological characteristics to those of patients with uterine LGESS. In primary or in recurrent LGESS cases, in univariate analysis, patients with uterine and extrauterine LGESS had similar disease-free intervals after the last treatment, and they also had similar OSs after the diagnosis. Ovarian preservation led to significantly increased recurrence for primary LGESS [hazard ratio (HR) 4.9, 95% CI: 2.3-10.1, P <0.001) and repeated recurrence for recurrent LGESS (HR 3.1, 95% CI: 1.3-7.3, P =0.009). Surgical treatment for recurrent LGESS decreased repeated recurrence after the first recurrence (HR 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1-0.7, P =0.006). No factors were found to be associated with the OS of primary or recurrent LGESS.

CONCLUSION

The clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of extrauterine LGESS are similar to those of uterine LGESS. Surgery is the treatment of choice for recurrent LGESS. Ovarian preservation is detrimental to disease-free survival but not to OS in both uterine and extrauterine LGESS.

Case report: High-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with adrenal glands metastases: An unreported site of metastasis

Background

Endometrial stromal sarcoma is a relatively rare malignant tumor that derives from the malignant transformation of primitive uterine mesenchymal cells. It can lead to distant metastases. High-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma is extremely rare. The adrenal glands are an unreported site of metastasis.

Case summary

A 71-year-old woman with a diagnosis of endometrial stromal sarcoma 30 months ago. After receiving treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the patient was kept asymptomatic during the follow-up until 2 years later, when she complained of dyspnea. Pulmonary and right adrenal gland metastases were detected by ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT. The right upper lobe mass was diagnosed as a high-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma metastasis after postoperative pathology. Due to the patient's high risk of surgery, as she had many underlying diseases, we performed adequate preoperative preparation. The physical examination revealed that a hard mass was palpable in the right renal area. The right adrenal mass was resected in our hospital. Immunohistochemistry showed ER (-), PR (-), CD10 (+), P16 (+), Ki-67 (50%). The final diagnosis on pathological examination was a high-grade ESS metastatic to the right adrenal gland. The patient continued treatment in other hospitals after surgical resection. After four months of postoperative follow-up, metastasis was detected again during a PET/CT examination at an outside hospital.

Conclusion

Endometrial stromal sarcoma is rare, and the adrenal glands are an unreported site of metastasis. It has no specific clinical symptoms and mainly found for other reasons. The diagnosis still depends on pathology and immunohistochemistry. If there is no relevant past history, it is difficult to exclude a primary adrenal tumor.

Update on Endometrial Stromal Tumours of the Uterus

Endometrial stromal tumours (ESTs) are rare, intriguing uterine mesenchymal neoplasms with variegated histopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular characteristics. Morphologically, ESTs resemble endometrial stromal cells in the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. In 1966 Norris and Taylor classified ESTs into benign and malignant categories according to the mitotic count. In the most recent classification by the WHO (2020), ESTs have been divided into four categories: Endometrial Stromal Nodules (ESNs), Low-Grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcomas (LG-ESSs), High-Grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcomas (HG-ESSs) and Undifferentiated Uterine Sarcomas (UUSs). ESNs are clinically benign. LG-ESSs are tumours of low malignant potential, often with indolent clinical behaviour, with some cases presented with a late recurrence after hysterectomy. HG-ESSs are tumours of high malignant potential with more aggressive clinical outcome. UUSs show high-grade morphological features with very aggressive clinical behavior. With the advent of molecular techniques, the morphological classification of ESTs can be integrated with molecular findings in enhanced classification of these tumours. In the future, the morphological and immunohistochemical features correlated with molecular categorisation of ESTs, will become a robust means to plan therapeutic decisions, especially in recurrences and metastatic disease. In this review, we summarise the morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular features of ESTs with particular reference to the most recent molecular findings.

Low-grade extrauterine endometrial stromal sarcoma of the peritoneum: A case report and literature review

Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is an uncommon mesenchymal tumor that accounts for less than 1% of all primary uterine malignancies and extrauterine endometrial stromal sarcoma (EESS) is even rarer. We report the case of a 75-year-old woman with an abdominal tumor and multiple peritoneal implants. Histological analysis of the surgical specimens showed bland cellularity resembling normal endometrial stroma. The diagnosis of a low-grade EESS was confirmed by immunophenotypic findings and demonstration of JAZF1 translocation. After extensive sampling, no evidence of endometriosis was found. Our case showed atypical aggressive behavior and we discuss the possible influence of the high mitotic count (8/10 HPFs) in some areas of the tumor, the multifocality of the abdominal implants and the postmenopausal status of the patient. The unusual clinical presentation and extrauterine location of such a rare tumor were challenging implying a wide range of differential diagnosis. The correlation of morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular findings was necessary to arrive at the correct diagnosis.