A Detailed Immunohistochemical Analysis of 2 Cases of Papillary Cystadenoma of the Broad Ligament: An Extremely Rare Neoplasm Characteristic of Patients With Von Hippel-Lindau Disease

Overview of the 2022 WHO Classification of Familial Endocrine Tumor Syndromes

This review of the familial tumor syndromes involving the endocrine organs is focused on discussing the main updates on the upcoming fifth edition of the WHO Classification of Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Tumors. This review emphasizes updates on histopathological and molecular genetics aspects of the most important syndromes involving the endocrine organs. We describe the newly defined Familial Cancer Syndromes as MAFA-related, MEN4, and MEN5 as well as the newly reported pathological findings in DICER1 syndrome. We also describe the updates done at the new WHO on the syndromic and non-syndromic familial thyroid diseases. We emphasize the problem of diagnostic criteria, mention the new genes that are possibly involved in this group, and at the same time, touching upon the role of some immunohistochemical studies that could support the diagnosis of some of these conditions. As pathologists play an important role in identifying tumors within a familial cancer syndrome, we highlight the most important clues for raising the suspicious of a syndrome. Finally, we highlight the challenges in defining these entities as well as determining their clinical outcome in comparison with sporadic tumors. Instead of the usual subject review, we present the highlights of the updates on familial cancer syndromes by answering select questions relevant to practicing pathologists.

Primary broad ligament adenocarcinoma

Primary broad ligament carcinoma is a very rare occurrence with 28 reported cases worldwide, to date. The epidemiology, treatment strategy and prognosis are still uncertain because of the scarcity of cases. Currently, all broad ligament carcinomas are managed similar to epithelial ovarian cancer. We report the case of a 43-year-old female with a prolonged complaint of abdominal pain and intermittent urinary retention, requiring frequent catheterization. She was diagnosed with obstructive right hydroureteronephrosis. The abdominal Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) revealed a well-defined heterogeneous lesion of 2.1х3х3.2cm size in the right lateral and posterior wall of the cervix. An ultrasound (USG)-guided Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) of the mass was done and it was suspected to be malignant. The patient underwent total abdominal hysterectomy, right salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic lymph-nodal sampling, and peritoneal washing. Histological examination depicted an endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the broad ligament. She received adjuvant chemotherapy, followed by hormonal therapy. It has been five years since her surgery, and she is now alive and disease free.

Papillary Cystadenoma: An Incidental Finding in Tubal Ligation

von Hippel-Lindau disease (vHLD) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder with multiple benign and malignant tumors of different organs. We report a papillary cystadenoma of the mesosalpinx found in close association with an adenomatoid tumor discovered incidentally following tubal ligation in a patient with vHLD.

Uncommon hereditary gynaecological tumour syndromes: pathological features in tumours that may predict risk for a germline mutation

The most common hereditary gynaecological tumour syndromes are hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome and Lynch syndrome. However, pathologists also may encounter gynaecological tumours in women with rare hereditary syndromes. Many of these tumours exhibit distinctive gross and microscopic features that are associated with a risk for an inherited gene mutation. The sensitivity and specificity of these tumour pathology features for predicting an inherited mutation vary depending on the syndrome. By recognising these tumour features, pathologists may potentially contribute to the diagnosis of an unsuspected syndrome by recommending referral of the patient for formal risk assessment by genetic counselling. Patients additionally benefit from diagnosis of an inherited syndrome because many also carry a lifetime risk for developing primary malignancies outside of the gynaecological tract. Early diagnosis of an inherited syndrome permits early screening, detection, and management of additional malignancies associated with the syndrome. This review highlights these rare syndromes and their tumour pathology, including Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (gastric type mucinous carcinoma of the cervix; ovarian sex cord tumour with annular tubules); hereditary leiomyoma renal cell carcinoma syndrome (uterine leiomyoma); tuberous sclerosis complex (uterine PEComa; uterine lymphangioleiomyomatosis); DICER1 syndrome (ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour; cervical embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma); rhabdoid tumour predisposition syndrome 2 (small cell carcinoma of the ovary, hypercalcaemic type); Cowden syndrome (endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma); naevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (ovarian fibroma); and Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (clear cell papillary cystadenoma of the broad ligament).

Mesonephric (Wolffian) Pseudoendometrioid Carcinoma of the Broad Ligament, Arising From a Papillary Cystadenoma

This article describes the case of a 70-year-old woman with an adnexal cystadenocarcinoma located in the right broad ligament and displaying a striking resemblance to a well-differentiated endometrioid adenocarcinoma. The uniqueness of this pseudoendometrioid carcinoma lies in the fact that its mesonephric nature is revealed by the origin from a papillary cystadenoma of the broad ligament, where remnants of the mesonephric duct are seated, and the immunohistochemical profile, particularly a uniform negativity for estrogen and progesterone receptors, apical-luminal positivity for CD10, and strong nuclear positivity for GATA3.

Gynecologic Manifestations of Less Commonly Encountered Hereditary Syndromes

This review covers gynecologic manifestations that may occur in rare hereditary syndromes. Recent advances in disorders, such as hereditary leiomyomatosis, renal cell carcinoma syndrome and tuberous sclerosis complex, are discussed as well as lesions that occur in von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, Cowden syndrome, Ollier disease/Maffucci syndrome, and Carney complex. Characteristic clinicopathologic features of each of these syndromes are discussed with an emphasis on the key features that enable pathologists to identify patients at highest risk for these diseases.

Rare Primary Adenocarcinoma of the Broad Ligament: Report of Two Cases and a Literature Review

Malignant primary tumors arising in the uterine broad ligament are extremely rare, and only 26 cases have been reported to date. We describe 2 new cases of primary adenocarcinoma of the broad ligament, and we review the previous literature on such rare tumors. In Case 1, a 71-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of increased yellow vaginal discharge and lower abdominal pain during bowel movement. Transvaginal sonography revealed a 6.5 cm mass located on the dorsum of the uterus and a 7.0 cm mass (with cystic and solid parts) near the right adnexa. We postoperatively diagnosed the mass as a high-grade serous carcinoma of the broad ligament (pT3cNXM0). The patient is currently receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin. In Case 2, during a complete medical checkup a 43-year-old woman was found to have a pelvic mass indicative of leiomyoma. Transvaginal sonography revealed a 3.8 cm mass located on the dorsum of the uterus. Following surgery, we diagnosed the mass as a clear cell adenocarcinoma of the broad ligament (pT2bN1M0). This patient is also now receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin.

Von Hippel-Lindau disease

von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an inheritable condition with an incidence of 1 in 36000 live births. Individuals with VHL develop benign and malignant tumors including retinal and central nervous system hemangioblastomas, clear cell renal cell carcinomas (RCC), pheochromocytomas, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and endolymphatic sac tumors (ELSTs). VHL is caused by germline loss of function of the VHL gene on one allele at chromosome 3p25-26. A somatic "second hit" event leads to the loss of the other allele and tumor formation. Loss of VHL function in cells leads to increased expression and stabilization of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF). VHL protein/HIF pathway has been implicated in tumorigenesis for hemangioblastomas, RCC and other VHL tumors. Clinical examination, imaging, and genetic testing for VHL mutations confirm VHL disease. Management of VHL disease largely consists of surgical resection of symptomatic tumors (hemangioblastomas), tumors prone to metastasize (RCC larger than 3cm), or tumors causing hormonal symptoms (pheochromocytomas). Despite advances in early diagnosis and management of VHL disease, life expectancy for VHL patients remains low at 40-52 years. Secondary effects from VHL manifestations are mitigated by routine surveillance and early detection. In this chapter, we summarize the current state of knowledge in VHL disease.