[Clinicopathologic analysis of 102 cases of mixed epithelial and mesenchymal tumors of the uterus].
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical and pathologic features, histological criteria and pathologic factors contributing to diagnosis of mixed epithelial and mesenchymal tumors (mixed müllerian tumors, MMT) of the uterus.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 102 cases of MMT of the uterus (74 adenofibromas including 9 recurrent cases, 3 atypical polypoid adenomyomas, 2 carcinofibromas, 10 adenosarcomas and 13 carcinosarcomas) was undertaken. Clinical records, gross features and tissue slices were reviewed. The follow-up data were analysed.


RESULTS
The most common symptom was vaginal bleeding. Clinical signs included pelvic mass, uterine polyps, and enlarged uterus. Benign MMT usually presented as exophytic polypoid masses extending into the uterine cavity or protruding through the external os, often broad-based, lobulated and papillary. It was hard to distinguish low-grade malignant MMT from the benign ones by gross appearance. High-grade malignant MMT had the common gross features of carcinoma and sarcoma. Histologically, MMT showed a biphasic differentiation of mesenchymal and epithelial components. MMT were classified according to whether these elements were benign or malignant. Nine cases of adenofibroma without unique features for the diagnosis of adenosarcoma recurred at postoperative intervals of 3 to 96 months. Recurrent tumors were almost always confined to the original site.


CONCLUSIONS
Uterine MMT tumors according to WHO diagnostic criteria are not rare. The differential diagnosis depends on a multifactorial analysis. The recurrent adenofibromas may be a kind of borderline tumors with benign appearances and malignant behavior.
Chen
Xiao-duan
XD
Department of Pathology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, China.
Shi
Hai-yan
HY
Zhang
Xiao-fei
XF
D000232:Adenofibroma / Q000473:pathology; D018194:Adenomyoma / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018200:Mixed Tumor, Mullerian / Q000473:pathology*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*