Clinical management of a unique case of PNET of the uterus during pregnancy, and review of the literature

Ewing Sarcoma of the Female Genital Tract: Clinicopathologic Analysis of 21 Cases With an Emphasis on the Differential Diagnosis of Gynecologic Round Cell, Spindle, and Epithelioid Neoplasms

Ewing sarcoma is an uncommon neoplasm considered in the differential diagnosis of tumors with "small round cell" morphology, but its occurrence in the gynecologic tract has only been sporadically documented. Herein, we describe the largest cohort of Ewing sarcoma localized to the female genital tract to date, and emphasize their clinicopathologic resemblance to more common gynecologic neoplasms. Ewing sarcoma (n=21) was retrospectively identified from 5 institutions. The average patient age was 35 (range 6-61) years. Tumor sites included uterus (n=8), cervix (n=4), vulva (n=5), vagina (n=1), broad ligament (n=1), inguinal area (n=1), and pelvis (n=1). Nine of 18 cases in which slides were available for review demonstrated only classic round cell morphology, with the remainder showing a variable combination and prominence of variant ovoid/spindle or epithelioid appearance. Tumors showed diffuse membranous reactivity for CD99 (20/20) and were positive for NKX2.2 (8/8, diffuse) and cyclin D1 (7/7, of which 3/7 were patchy/multifocal and 4/7 were diffuse). They were negative for ER (0/6) and CD10 (0/6). Three cases were initially diagnosed as endometrial stromal sarcomas. EWSR1 rearrangement was confirmed in 20/21 by fluorescence in situ hybridization (n=15) and/or sequencing (n=8). Of the eight tumors that underwent sequencing, 6 harbored FLI1, 1 ERG, and 1 FEV as the fusion partner. Of 11 patients with available follow-up, 5 died of disease, 1 developed lung metastases and 5 are alive with no evidence of disease. Ewing sarcoma of the gynecologic tract is a rare, aggressive entity that shares some morphologic and immunohistochemical features with other more common gynecologic neoplasms. In addition to the typical round cell appearance, variant spindled/ovoid to epithelioid morphology may also be observed and should prompt consideration of this entity with appropriate immunohistochemical and/or molecular studies.

Primary primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the cervix confirmed with molecular analysis in a pregnant woman: A case report and literature review

Primary primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) in the female tract is rare. Recently, a case of cervical PNET was diagnosed in our hospital. A 29-year-old pregnant woman presented with a cystic-solid cervical mass at the 7th week of gestation. The mass grew rapidly during follow-up and ruptured at the 22nd week. A biopsy was performed on the mass. Pathological examination revealed a malignant neoplasm composed of small cells which exhibited positive immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for CD99, SYN, and FLI1. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) displayed the presence of EWS-FLI1 fusion gene resulting from the chromosomal translocation t (11;22, q24;q12), which confirmed the diagnosis of cervical PNET. The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results showed type 2 EWS-FLI1 fusion occurred in this tumor, suggesting a poor prognosis. The patient underwent surgical resection and was given adjuvant chemotherapy followed by pelvic radiotherapy. PNET arising from the genital tract, especially in the uterine cervix, is very rare and presents a diagnostic challenge. FISH and RT-PCR analysis are helpful for the diagnosis of such a tumor at an unusual site, as in the present case.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the uterus: Excellent clinical response following a multimodal treatment approach

•

PNET of the genital tract is rare and often presents at an advanced stage highlighting their aggressive nature.

•

Universally accepted treatment guidelines for PNETs are not available.

•

A multimodal treatment approach may be effective in treating this rare disease.

We present a case report of a patient with uterine primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET). The patient underwent surgical management followed by pelvic radiation and intravaginal brachytherapy. Following a stable interval, the patient was found to have new onset spinal, pulmonary, and adrenal metastatic disease. She was subsequently started on high dose carboplatin and etoposide. An interval reduction of her metastatic disease was observed after three cycles. We conclude that a multimodal approach, including platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy with etoposide, can be effective in patients who present with residual or recurrent disease after surgical and radiation therapy. However, more robust studies with longer follow-up periods will be needed to establish a consensus regarding effective treatment options.

Ovarian primary primitive neuroectodermal tumor: a review of cases at PUMCH and in the published literature

Background

The pathological characteristics, treatment strategies and prognosis of ovarian primary primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) were unclear due to the rarity of PNET. All cases treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) between 1975 and 2016 and published in the English literature between 1980 to 2017 were reviewed.

Results

Finally four cases from PUMCH and 15 cases in the literature were included. The median age was 25 years (range 13–79), and the median diameter of the tumors was 13.4 cm (range 5.0–30.0). The most common initial symptoms were abdominal pain, bloating and a pelvic mass. Diagnosis primarily depended on immunohistochemical and fluorescence in situ hybridization data. Treatment consisted of surgery, various chemotherapy regimens and/or radiotherapy. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 15 and 52%, respectively. For patients with OS and PFS > 12 months, the median ages were 21 years (range 13–35) and 17 years (range 13–35), respectively, while for patients with OS < 12 months and PFS < 12 months, the median ages were 48 years (range 14–79) and 25 years (range 18–79), respectively.

Conclusions

No standard therapy for ovarian primary PNET exists, and an individualized strategy is recommended. Young patients seem to have better prognoses.