Cytodiagnostic problems in uterine sarcoma. Analysis according to a novel classification of tumor growth types.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the cytologic diagnostic problems of uterine sarcomas and the differential properties between pure sarcomas and carcinosarcomas.


METHODS
Four leiomyosarcomas and 21 carcinosarcomas (homologous and heterologous) treated at the Saitama Cancer Center from 1991 to 2000 were analyzed macroscopically and microscopically.


RESULTS
Of 4 leiomyosarcomas, 3 were intramuscular, localized type, with a negative diagnosis for sarcoma. Of 21 carcinosarcomas, 7 were exophytic type with little necrosis (B-1), 5 were exophytic type with marked necrosis (B-2), 6 were exophytic type with a small sarcomatous component (B-3), and 3 were endophytic type (B-4). All endometrial smears were positive for sarcoma in B-1, whereas 5 of 14 (36%) were positive in the latter 3 types (B-2, 3 and 4).


CONCLUSIONS
In pure leiomyosarcomas, the sarcomatous portions are usually covered with normal endometrium. In carcinosarcomas, sarcomatous component is relatively limited in some cases and frequently covered with marked necrosis or carcinomatous tissue. These pathologically specific findings should make cytologic diagnosis difficult in uterine sarcomas.
Oda
Katsutoshi
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. katsutoshi-tky@umin.ac.jp
Okada
Satoshi
S
Nei
Tomomi
T
Shirai
Takako
T
Takahashi
Michiko
M
Sano
Yusaku
Y
Shiromizu
Kenji
K
D000368:Aged; D002296:Carcinosarcoma / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology; D009215:Myometrium / Q000473:pathology; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears