title: [Highly cellular leiomyoma of uterus: a comparative morphologic and immunohistochemical study of endometrial stromal tumors].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the morphological characteristics and immunophenotype of highly cellular leiomyoma (HCL) of uterus, compared with that of uterine endometrial stromal tumors (EST).
  
  
  METHODS
  HE and immuno-stained sections EnVision method from 20 cases of HCL, 21 cases of EST and 1 case of stromomyoma were reviewed. Monoclonal antibodies against h-caldesmon, calponin, CD10, desmin and smooth muscle actin (SMA) were used for immunohistochemistry studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On microscopic examination, HCL were densely cellular and composed of cells that ranged from spindle-shaped to round with scanty cytoplasm. A focal fascicular pattern was present in all cases. Blood vessels with large, thick muscular walls were a conspicuous feature of the majority of tumors. Cleft-like spaces were present in 9 tumors and 15 cases exhibited irregular focal extensions into the adjacent myometrium. ESTs were composed of cells that resembled endometrial stromal cells of proliferative endometrium. These cases included a significant component of delicate blood vessels similar to spiral arterioles. All 20 low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma cases had infiltrative growth to adjacent myometrium. Immunoreactivities of HCL for h-caldesmon, calponin, CD10, Desmin and SMA were 80.0% (16/20), 100% (20/20), 0 (0/20), 95.0% (19/20) and 100% (20/20), respectively, whereas the positive rates of EST were 4.7% (1/21), 23.8% (5/21), 66.7% (14/21), 23.8% (5/21) and 19.0% (4/21), respectively (P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Highly cellular leiomyomas have distinct morphologic features. H-caldesmon, calponin, CD10, desmin and SMA are helpful in the differential diagnosis of HCL and EST.
authors.affiliation: People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100044, China. xiaoyliao@sina.com
authors.forename: Xiaoyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Caixia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Yanli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Yunzhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003893:Desmin / Q000032:analysis; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D036821:Endometrial Stromal Tumors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D015260:Neprilysin / Q000032:analysis; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D000096985:Calponins
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins; D003893:Desmin; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D015260:Neprilysin; D000096985:Calponins