Clinicopathologic analysis of mullerian adenosarcoma: the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center experience

A Case Report of Uterine Müllerian Adenosarcoma With Sarcomatous Overgrowth

Uterine adenosarcoma remains a highly aggressive tumor and is less described in the literature, with an unfavorable prognosis and an increased risk of local and distant recurrence. However, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy offer local control of the disease, and overall survival remains reduced. We report the case of a 79-year-old patient with stage IIIB uterine adenosarcoma, confirmed by immunohistochemistry and initially diagnosed with postmenopausal metrorrhagia. The patient was managed through a multimodal treatment by conducting a multidisciplinary consultation.

Mullerian adenosarcoma: clinicopathologic and molecular characterization highlighting recurrent BAP1 loss and distinctive features of high-grade tumors

Mullerian adenosarcoma is an uncommon mesenchymal tumor of the gynecologic tract. Most cases are low-grade, while high-grade adenosarcomas are rare and not well studied. Herein, we characterize the clinicopathologic and molecular features of 27 adenosarcomas of gynecologic origin, enriched for high-grade tumors subjected to targeted panel sequencing. Sarcomatous overgrowth was more frequently seen in high-grade compared to low-grade tumors (12/17, 71%, vs 1/10, 10%, p = 0.004) and heterologous elements were exclusive to high-grade cases (n = 7, p = 0.03). All deaths were from high-grade disease (advanced primary, n = 2, or recurrence, n = 5). Genetic alterations specific to high-grade adenosarcomas have known associations with chromosome instability, including TP53 mutations (n = 4) and amplifications of MDM2 (n = 2) and CCNE1 (n = 2). Somatic ATRX frameshift mutations were found in 2 patients with high-grade recurrences following a primary low-grade adenosarcoma and ATRX deletion in 1 high-grade adenosarcoma with an adjacent low-grade component. The fraction of genome altered by copy number alterations was significantly higher in high-grade compared to low-grade adenosarcomas (P = 0.001). Other recurrent genetic alterations across the entire cohort included BAP1 homozygous deletions (n = 4), DICER1 mutations (n = 4), ARID1A mutations (n = 3), TERT promoter mutations (n = 2) and amplification (n = 1), as well as alterations involving members of the PI3K and MAPK signaling pathways. One tumor harbored an ESR1-NCOA3 fusion and another had an MLH1 homozygous deletion. Immunohistochemical analysis for BAP1 revealed loss of nuclear expression in 6/24 (25%) cases, including all four tumors with BAP1 deletions. Notably, out of 196 mesenchymal neoplasms of gynecologic origin, BAP1 homozygous deletion was only found in adenosarcomas (P = 0.0003). This study demonstrates that high-grade adenosarcomas are heterogeneous at the molecular level and are characterized by genomic instability and TP53 mutations; ATRX loss may be involved in high-grade transformation of low-grade adenosarcoma; and BAP1 inactivation appears to be a specific pathogenic driver in a subset of adenosarcomas.

High grade uterine adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth in a young woman amenable to primary surgical reduction: A case study and literature review

Mullerian adenosarcomas are rare and often low-grade mixed tumors that typically respond well to optimal surgical resection. However, adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth (ASSO) is a high-grade mixed tumor commonly associated with invasion, metastasis, and a poor prognosis. The health care providers herein report a case study of a patient diagnosed with ASSO who has maintained remission status for 19 months following radical surgical resection alone. The patient, a 24-year-old Caucasian female without significant medical history, initially complained of abdominal fullness, pelvic pressure, altered menses, and unintentional weight loss. A necrotic cervical mass was present on the exam; mass biopsy revealed spindle cell sarcoma with rhabdomyosarcomatous differentiation. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, radical tumor debulking, and pelvic and periaortic lymph node dissection. Histopathological diagnosis of the resected specimen was consistent with ASSO, limited to 0.7 cm out of 2.0 cm of myometrial thickness, with negative lymph node and parametrial tissue, consistent with Stage IB disease. She did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation and has remained disease-free to date. Because of the rarity of ASSO and lack of abundant case study reports, uniform clinical guidelines for treatment following surgical resection of a high-grade adenosarcoma remain unclear. However, the case study below may suggest that radical surgical debulking of this disease with negative margins in young patients with early-stage disease can be sufficient in treating high-grade ASSO, despite their typical aggressive nature.

Clinicopathologic characteristics and oncologic outcomes in adenosarcoma of gynecologic sites

Objective

To examine clinicopathologic characteristics and oncologic outcomes of patients diagnosed with Mullerian adenosarcoma and to evaluate ovarian preservation as a practical management option in early-stage disease.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed of 31 patients treated for uterine, ovarian, or cervical adenosarcoma at our institution between 1/2000-3/2020. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier estimates, the log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results

Median age was 51 years (IQR: 41-68). Primary sites included uterine corpus (n = 23, 74.2%), uterine cervix (n = 7, 22.6%), and ovary (n = 1, 3.2%). Surgical management primarily consisted of total hysterectomy +/- bilateral adnexectomy +/- lymph node dissection. Fifteen (48.1%) patients underwent lymph node dissection; no patients had positive nodes. Ovaries were preserved in 6 (19.4%). Twenty-two (71.0%) patients received no adjuvant therapy, 4 (12.9%) received chemotherapy, 1 (3.2%) received chemoradiation, and 3 (9.7%) received hormonal therapy. Sarcomatous overgrowth (p = 0.04), high grade histology (p = 0.002), and greater depth of myometrial invasion (p = 0.001) were associated with decreased RFS. None of the 6 patients with ovarian preservation had recurrences. At last follow up, 21 patients (67.7%) had no evidence of disease, 7 (22.6%) were deceased due to disease, and 3 (9.7%) were deceased due to non-cancerous reasons.

Conclusions

Uterine adenosarcoma appears to have a relatively good prognosis, especially in the absence of risk factors, such as sarcomatous overgrowth, high grade histology, and deep myometrial invasion. Ovarian preservation may be a feasible management option with non-inferior outcomes for premenopausal women with early-stage disease. Future studies including larger patient cohorts are needed for this rare disease.

Atypical uterine polyps show morphologic and molecular overlap with mullerian adenosarcoma but follow a benign clinical course

A subset of clinically benign uterine polyps shows atypical morphologic features worrisome for, but not diagnostic of, Mullerian adenosarcoma. We report clinicopathologic data for 63 polyps from 58 women with atypical morphologic features including abnormal architecture, abnormal periglandular stroma, stromal atypia, and mitoses >2 per 10 hpf. Four (11%) of 36 women with follow-up tissue sampling had residual/recurrent atypical polyp. Twelve (27%) of 44 women underwent hysterectomy subsequent to a diagnosis of atypical polyp. No patient developed adenosarcoma over median follow-up of 150 months. Twenty-one primary atypical polyps underwent molecular profiling. Five (24%) harbored chr 12q13-15 gain or amplification, 9/20 (45%) harbored chr 6q25.1 gain, and 7/21 (33%) had no significant copy number alterations. Gains of chr 1q, chr 8p12, and chr 10q11.21-23, amplifications of chr 12q24.12-13, chr 15p24.1-26.1, and chr 18q21.33, and loss of chr 7 and chr 11q21 were each seen in a single polyp. Mean tumor mutational burden was 3.1 (range, 0.76-8.365) mutations/Mb. Pathogenic point mutations were identified in 12/20 (60%) primary atypical polyps. We propose the term "atypical uterine polyps" for these lesions, which show biologic overlap with early Mullerian adenosarcoma but lack molecular alterations characteristic of clinically aggressive adenosarcoma and appear to follow a benign clinical course. Conservative management with close clinical follow-up and repeat sampling can be considered for these lesions, when clinically appropriate.

Superior Vena Cava Syndrome associated with recurrent uterine adenosarcoma

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A woman with a history of Stage IA low-risk uterine adenosarcoma presented with shortness of breath and rib pain.

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She was found to have recurrent metastatic disease with resultant fatal SVC Syndrome.

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Better methods to determine which patients with uterine adenosarcoma are at risk of recurrence and death are needed.

Whole-Genome Sequencing and Target Validation Analysis of Müllerian Adenosarcoma: A Tumor With Complex but Specific Genetic Alterations

Mullerian adenosarcoma (MAS) is a biphasic tumor with malignant stroma. It is most commonly of endometrial origin but occasionally originates in the cervix, ovary, or other pelvic/peritoneal sites. The typical MAS is low grade with an indolent clinical course; however, tumors with sarcomatous overgrowth (SO) or a high-grade sarcoma tend to be aggressive. Tumor etiology is largely unknown. To better understand the global genome alterations and gene mutations in MAS, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and target validation analysis were performed. MAS showed remarkable chromosome (chr) copy number variation (CNV), specifically, gains in chr 1q, 5p, 12p, 12q, and 17q and losses in chr 3p, 3q, 9p, and 11q. Gain of chr 12q13-15 was present in 50% of cases. The selected gene products in gain regions were upregulated as measured by immunohistochemistry. HMGA2 overexpression was significantly correlated with SO. While the structural variation (SV) rate was relatively low overall, a disproportionally high rate of break-ends at chr 7 was noted involving 6 in-frame rearrangement fusion genes. Among 40 frequently mutated genes detected by WGS and validated in 29 MAS by next generation sequencing (NGS), KMT2C, and BCOR were frequently seen in MAS both with and without SO, while MAGEC1 and KDM6B were strongly associated with SO. Overall, a higher rate of frequently mutated genes was found in MAS with SO (33%) than MAS without (11%). This study uncovers the complex and specific genetic alterations in this malignancy. The findings provide a tool for future investigation of these molecular changes in tumorigenesis and target therapies.

Ovarian metastasis of Müllerian adenosarcoma of the cervix with sarcomatous overgrowth

The aim of this study is to present a rare case of Müllerian adenosarcoma of the cervix with ovarian metastasis and sarcomatous overgrowth. A gravida 2, para 2 woman aged 32 years with vaginal bleeding was admitted to the gynecology department. A 3-4 cm polypoid mass protruding from the cervix was detected in a pelvic examination. Total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingoopherectomy was performed because of metastatic implants on the right ovary. The pathologic evaluation revealed Müllerian adenosarcoma of the cervix with sarcomatous overgrowth and ovarian metastasis. After surgery, the patient was planned to undergo chemo- and radiotherapy. This is the first cervical Müllerian adenosarcoma case mentioned in the literature with metastasis to the ovary in a young woman. There is no optimal management option for cervical adenosarcomas due to the rarity of this phenomenon. Nevertheless, even if the patient is young and imaging techniques do not elucidate metastatic disease, surgeons should evaluate the ovaries for the spread of tumor, especially if histology reveals sarcomatous overgrowth.

Uterine Adenosarcoma: a Review

Adenosarcomas are rare malignancies of the female genital tract, accounting for approximately 5 % of uterine sarcomas. Occasionally, adenosarcoma occurs in the ovaries or in extra-uterine tissue, which may be related to endometriosis. These tumors are characterized by benign epithelial elements and a malignant mesenchymal component. Pathologic diagnosis is dependent on the identification of the characteristic morphologic features. The most common immunohistochemical markers for adenosarcoma are CD10 and WT1, but these are not specific. The most frequent presenting symptom is abnormal uterine bleeding. The majority of patients present with stage I disease, with a 5-year overall survival of 60 to 80 %. Survival is influenced by the presence of myometrial invasion, sarcomatous overgrowth, lymphovascular invasion, necrosis, and the presence of heterologous elements including rhabdomyoblastic differentiation. Patients with sarcomatous overgrowth have significantly increased risk of recurrence 23 versus 77 % and decreased 5-year overall survival 50 to 60 %. Standard of care treatment is total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy without lymphadenectomy, as the incidence of lymph node metastasis is rare. Retrospective data does not support the use of adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy in uterine adenosarcomas as no survival benefit is seen. Insufficient data exists to recommend routinely neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy for uterine adenosarcomas. Limited evidence exists for the role of hormonal therapy in uterine adenosarcomas. The PIK3/AKT/PTEN pathway is mutated in ∼70 % of adenosarcomas, and this may represent a possible therapeutic target. This article reviews the current state of knowledge concerning uterine adenosarcoma and discusses the management of this rare tumor.

A Rare Case of Intramural Müllerian Adenosarcoma Arising from Adenomyosis of the Uterus

Müllerian adenosarcomas usually arise as polypoid masses in the endometrium of post-menopausal women. Occasionally, these tumors arise in the cervix, vagina, broad and round ligaments, ovaries and rarely in extragenital sites; these cases are generally associated with endometriosis. We experienced a rare case of extraendometrial, intramural adenosarcoma arising in a patient with adenomyosis. A 40-year-old woman presented with sudden-onset suprapubic pain. The imaging findings suggested leiomyoma with cystic degeneration in the uterine fundus. An ill-defined ovoid tumor with hemorrhagic degeneration, measuring 7.5 cm in diameter, was detected. The microscopic findings showed glandular cells without atypia and a sarcomatous component with pleomorphism and high mitotic rates. There was no evidence of endometrial origin. To recognize that adenosarcoma can, although rarely, arise from adenomyosis is important to avoid overstaging and inappropriate treatment.

Müllerian adenosarcoma of the uterine cervix with sarcomatous overgrowth: A case report of aggressive disease in a young patient

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Cervical Müllerian adenosarcomas with sarcomatous overgrowth are rare and aggressive.

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Recurrence is more likely when less radical surgery is performed.

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Radiotherapy and ifosfamide and platinum chemotherapy may aid disease control.

Introduction

Müllerian adenosarcoma of the cervix with sarcomatous overgrowth and lymphovascular invasion is a rare and aggressive disease. We report a case of a young patient with Müllerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth in the uterine cervix and pelvic lymph node involvement. The patient received radical surgery but not adjuvant treatment, and the disease was aggressive with rapid relapse.

Presentation of case

A 39-year-old woman was diagnosed with Müllerian adenosarcoma of the cervix with sarcomatous overgrowth, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB2. She underwent abdominal radical hysterectomy and resection of the left external iliac lymph nodes for suspected metastatic involvement detected during surgical exploration but undetected via imaging. She refused adjuvant treatment, and the disease recurred 8 months after primary oncologic surgery, with rapid local, regional, and bone relapse.

Discussion

Our report suggests that sarcomatous overgrowth, a high mitotic index, a rhabdomyoblastic component, and lymphovascular compromise are risk factors for aggressive recurrence. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) was used to identify relapse locations in addition to those detected via clinical examination of the vaginal vault. However, whether PET-CT is indicated for the initial detection of lymph node and bone metastases in FIGO stage IB tumors with surgical indication is unclear.

Conclusion

A young woman with Müllerian adenosarcoma of the cervix with sarcomatous overgrowth presenting the risk factors for its recurrence experienced a rapid relapse after receiving radical surgery but not adjuvant therapy. Control of this aggressive disease via sequential radiotherapy and chemotherapy are recommended.

Advanced Mesodermal (Müllerian) Adenosarcoma of the Ovary: Metastases to the Lungs, Mouth, and Brain

Background. A malignant mixed Müllerian tumor (MMMT) is a malignant neoplasm found in the uterus, the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, and other parts of the body that contains both carcinomatous (epithelial tissue) and sarcomatous (connective tissue) components. Outcome of MMMTs is determined primarily by depth of invasion and stage. The metastatic background of these lesions is controversial and unknown. Case Report. A 75-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with anorexia, weakness, and persistent coughing. The imaging exams revealed a solid, promiscuous lesion of 16 × 14 cm in dimensions located into the small pelvis, surrounding the uterus and the ovaries. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy. The mass was removed and the histological examination of the specimen revealed an advanced mesodermal adenocarcinoma of the ovary (MMMT). Nine days after the operation the patient presented with metastatic lesions in the mouth as well as the lungs. Within a month after the discharge from the hospital metastatic lesions of the MMMT were also depicted in the CT brain scan. Conclusion. Despite the fact that sarcomas have a long-term metastatic potential, to our knowledge this is the first case of Müllerian adenosarcoma presenting with such extraperitoneal metastases.

Mullerian adenosarcoma of the cervix with heterologous elements and sarcomatous overgrowth

Cervical adenosarcomas are exceedingly infrequent tumors that occur most often in women of reproductive age. Adenosarcomas comprise benign epithelial elements and malignant stromal elements. The malignant stromal elements can either be homologous, such as fibroblasts or smooth muscle, or heterologous, like cartilage, striated muscle, or bone. We report a case of adenosarcoma of the cervix with heterologous elements and sarcomatous overgrowth in a 38-year-old woman.

A practical approach to the diagnosis of mixed epithelial and mesenchymal tumours of the uterus

The current 2014 World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of mixed epithelial and mesenchymal tumours of the uterus includes categories of carcinosarcoma, adenosarcoma, adenofibroma, adenomyoma and atypical polypoid adenomyoma, the last two lesions being composed of an admixture of benign epithelial and mesenchymal elements with a prominent smooth muscle component. In this review, each of these categories of uterine neoplasm is covered with an emphasis on practical tips for the surgical pathologist and new developments. In particular, helpful clues in the distinction between carcinosarcoma and dedifferentiated endometrial carcinoma will be discussed. In addition, salient features to help distinguish between adenofibroma, adenosarcoma, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma and other mesenchymal neoplasms in the differential diagnosis will be outlined. Finally, a discussion of adenomyoma and its main differential diagnostic considerations will be covered.

Uterine adenosarcoma: an analysis on management, outcomes, and risk factors for recurrence

OBJECTIVES

Uterine adenosarcoma is a rare malignancy with little data on optimal management. We aimed to clarify the impact of adjuvant therapy in patients with uterine adenosarcoma and identify risk factors for recurrence and death.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of patients undergoing primary evaluation and treatment for uterine adenosarcoma at a single institution from July 1982 through December 2011. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify prognostic factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

We identified 100 patients with uterine adenosarcoma, and 74 patients met the inclusion criteria. On multivariate analysis, sarcomatous overgrowth (SO) and lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) were predictors of worse PFS and OS. Median PFS and OS were 29.4 and 55.4 months for patients with SO, compared to 105.9 and 112.4 months for patients without SO (PFS HR 2.58, 95% CI 1.37-4.84, p=0.003; OS HR 2.45, 95% CI 1.26-4.76, p=0.008). Among patients with stage I disease, 17 of 22 patients (77%) with SO and 8 of 37 patients (22%) without SO had a recurrence (p<0.001). Among patients with stage I disease with SO, adjuvant therapy appeared to be associated with longer PFS and OS, but these differences were not statistically significant (PFS, 46.7 vs. 29.4 months, p=0.28; OS, 97.3 vs. 55.4 months, p=0.18).

CONCLUSION

In patients with uterine adenosarcoma, the presence of SO or LVSI confers a higher risk of recurrence. We did not identify an optimal treatment strategy for patients with SO, but adjuvant therapy may be associated with prolonged PFS.

Müllerian adenosarcoma arising from rectal endometriosis

A Müllerian adenosarcoma is an extremely rare tumor characterized by a stromal component of usually low-grade malignancy and by a benign glandular epithelial component. A Müllerian adenosarcoma occurs mainly in the uterus, but also in extrauterine locations. Extrauterine Müllerian adenosarcomas are thought to arise from endometriotic deposits. A 36-year-old female presented to Daegu Catholic University Medical Center with a symptom of loose stool for several months. The imaging studies revealed a rectal mass, so she underwent a laparoscopic low anterior resection. Although extemporary pathology revealed an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, the final histologic diagnosis was a Müllerian adenosarcoma arising from rectal endometriosis. To our knowledge, except a concomitant rectal villotubular adenoma, cases of Müllerian adenosarcomas arising the rectal wall are rare. An adenosarcoma arising from endometriosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a pelvic mass, even one appearing in rectal wall, because ectopic endometrial tissue exists everywhere.

Ovarian adenosarcoma simulating a simple cyst in a young patient

Müllerian adenosarcoma is a rare, mixed tumor that can occur throughout the female genital tract, but is most commonly found in the uterus. Ovarian adenosarcoma is rarer and has a poorer prognosis than uterine adenosarcoma. Data on the clinicopathological features of ovarian adenosarcoma are limited, and, due to its rarity, the management is controversial. The authors report a case of a 25-year-old patient who presented with recurrent abdominal pain. Sonography and laparotomy showed an ovarian cyst, and pathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of cystic low-grade adenosarcoma. The patient remains free of recurrence 6 months after diagnosis. The authors call attention to the differential diagnosis of ovarian masses, especially in young patients, and to the lack of evidence on the management of this neoplasm in the literature.

Mullerian adenosarcoma of the cervix: Report of two large tumors with sarcomatous overgrowth or heterologous elements

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Two cases of large cervical mullerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth or heterologous elements and contrasting survival outcomes are reported.

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When the diagnosis of mullerian adenosarcoma is uncertain or suspected, review of pathology by a national expert may be considered.

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Rhabdomyoblastic differentiation of mullerian adenosarcoma may be a more aggressive histologic type.

Mullerian adenosarcoma of uterus with sarcomatous overgrowth and heterologous component associated with stromal deposit in omentum: a case report and review of the literature

Background. Mullerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth (MASO) is a very rare variant of uterine sarcomas first described by Clement et al. as early as 1974. The presence of heterologous sarcomatous components is associated with aggressive biological behavior. Case Presentation. This is a case report of a 62-year female (P(2 + 0)) presenting with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. Her preoperative USG revealed subserosal fibroid with adherent omentum. She underwent abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy. Histopathological diagnosis of resected specimen was Mullerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth and presence of heterologous elements involving body of the uterus. The whole thickness of the myometrium was involved along with the presence of serosal nodules and omental deposits of sarcomatous component. Conclusion. MA is considered as a low-grade malignant tumor, but MASO is a high-grade tumor frequently associated with invasion and metastasis with poor treatment outcome. Because of its rarity, correct identification of these tumors and distinction from other uterine sarcomas are a challenging job and hence its morphological features merits attention.

Uterine sarcomas: histology and its implications on therapy

Uterine sarcomas are rare cancers, they comprise only 5% of all uterine malignancies. There are about 2,000 cases of uterine sarcoma diagnosed annually in the United States. Uterine sarcomas may be categorized as either favorable-risk, low-grade malignancies with a relatively good prognosis or as poor-risk, high-grade cancers that carry a high risk for tumor recurrence and disease progression. Expert histologic review is critical for appropriate diagnosis and management. Uterine sarcoma histologies considered to carry a more favorable prognosis include low-grade endometrial stromal sarcomas and adenosarcomas. The high-grade sarcomas include high-grade leiomyosarcomas, high-grade undifferentiated endometrial sarcomas, and adenosarcomas with sarcomatous overgrowth. The favorable histology, low-grade uterine sarcomas may be cured with surgical resection of uterus-limited disease. These tumors are often hormone-sensitive, and treatment with hormonal therapies may be efficacious for patients with advanced, unresectable disease. High-grade uterine leiomyosarcomas and undifferentiated endometrial sarcomas carry a high risk for recurrence, even after complete resection of uterus-limited disease. No adjuvant intervention has been shown to improve survival outcomes. Advanced, metastatic disease is generally treated with systemic cytotoxic therapies, which may result in objective response but is not curative. Selected patients with isolated metastatic disease and a long disease-free interval may benefit from metastatectomy.

Cervical Mullerian adenosarcoma with heterologous sarcomatous overgrowth: a fourth case and review of literature

BACKGROUND

Uterine sarcomas are relatively rare tumors that account for approximately 1-3% of female genital tract malignancies and between 4-9% of uterine cancers. Less than 8% of all cases are Mullerian adenosarcoma, a distinctive uterine neoplasm characterized by a benign, but occasionally atypical, epithelial and a malignant, usually low-grade, stromal component, both of which should be integral and neoplastic constituents of the tumor. Mullerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth (MASO) is a very aggressive variant, associated with post-operative recurrence, metastases, even when diagnosed in early stage.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a fourth MASO case derived from uterine cervix in a 72-year-old woman with metrorrhagia and a polypoid mass protruding through the cervical ostium. Total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, systematic pelvic lymph node dissection, omental biopsy and appendectomy were performed. Surgery treatment was associated with adjuvant whole-pelvis radiation (45 Gy) and adjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin/ifosfamide). After nine months of follow up, the patient was free of tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

The rarity of MASO of the cervix involves a management difficult. Most authors recommend total abdominal hysterectomy, usually accompanied by bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. There is no common agreement on staging by lymphadenectomy during primary surgery and adjuvant chemo-radio therapy.

Extragenital Müllerian adenosarcoma with pouch of Douglas location

Background

Of all female genital tract tumors, 1-3% are stromal malignancies. In 8-10% of cases, these are represented by Müllerian adenosarcoma an extremely rare tumor characterized by a stromal component of usually low-grade malignancy and by a benign glandular epithelial component. Variant that arises in the pouch of Douglas is scarcely mentioned in the medical literature.

Case Presentation

A 49-year-old para-0 woman, was seen at our OB/GYN-UNIT because she complained vaguely of pelvic pain. She had a mass of undefined nature in the pouch of Douglas. A simple excision of the mass showed low-grade Müllerian adenosarcoma with areas of stromal overgrowth. One and a half year after surgery, at another hospital, a mass was detected in the patient's posterior vaginal fornix and removed surgically. Six months later she came back to our observation with vaginal bleeding and mass in the vaginal fornix. We performed radical surgery. The pathological examination showed recurrent adenosarcoma. Surgical treatment was supplemented by radiation therapy.

Conclusions

The case of Müllerian adenosarcoma reported here is the third known so far in the literature that was located in the pouch of Douglas. To date, only two other such cases have been reported, including one resulting from neoplastic degeneration of an endometriotic cyst.

Extragenital adenosarcoma: a case report, review of the literature, and management discussion

BACKGROUND

Müllerian adenosarcoma is a rare mixed epithelial-mesenchymal tumor. An extragenital site of origin and sarcomatous overgrowth are associated with aggressive clinical behavior.

CASE

We present a rare case of extragenital adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth and coexistent endometriosis. She was treated with initial cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy. She underwent a second surgery for management of a high-grade bowel obstruction, due to pathologically confirmed recurrent intraperitoneal adenosarcoma. A complete clinical response was achieved with liposomal doxorubicin, and the patient remains disease-free eighteen months after completion of chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Liposomal doxorubicin appears to be an active agent for the treatment of adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth. In addition, we conclude from our review of all reported cases of extragenital adenosarcoma that concurrent endometriosis may represent a favorable prognostic factor.

[Uterine sarcoma treatment]

There are many common features between uterine sarcomas - leiomyosarcoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma, undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma and adenosarcoma -with regards to course, therapy and follow-up, such as post-menopausal bleeding or additional premenopausal bleeding, as well as rapid growth. There is a new staging system according to FIGO and new therapy recommendations according to NCCN. Prior to therapy, imaging staging of the pelvis, abdomen and chest should be carried out due to the frequency with which metastases are found at the time of diagnosis. In the case of disease spread in uterine sarcomas and malignant mixed tumors, good supportive therapy is a possible therapy option instead of chemo- or radiotherapy. The approach - observation, surgery, lymphonodectomy, mono- or polychemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy - is chosen according to the extent of spread and the resection status. Neoadjuvant therapies are not as yet established.

Uterine mullerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth fatal recurrence within two weeks of diagnosis: a case report

Mullerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth (MASO) is a rare variant of uterine sarcomas, associated with postoperative recurrence, metastases and a fatal outcome. The mean age at diagnosis is 54.5 years. A 37-year-old nullipara presented with irregular vaginal bleeding, a normal pelvic examination, and an initially negative ultrasound. Repeat ultrasound one month later revealed an 11-cm heterogeneous pelvic mass. She underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Pathology confirmed uterine MASO. Computed tomography 2 weeks postoperatively showed a huge mass compatible with recurrence. Patient died 2 weeks later. MASO is rarely diagnosed in women in their 4th decade. This case stresses that these aggressive tumors should be considered in the differential of patients with vaginal bleeding and pelvic masses irrespective of their age.