title: Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma of the endocervix. Report of a case and review of the literature.
abstract: Cervical sarcomas are rare entities comprising 0.5% of all primary cervical malignancies. Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is the least common (< 10%) type of uterine sarcoma. It has traditionally been divided into two categories: low-grade stromal sarcoma (LGSS), which constitutes 50-60% of all ESS, and high-grade stromal sarcoma (HGSS). Low-grade ESS may arise in extrauterine locations, classically described as arising in foci of endometriosis. In our case, a 44-year-old woman presented with a 4-week history of abnormal vaginal secretions and occasional bleeding. Physical examination revealed a soft, hemorrhagic mass on the posterior cervix, approximately 7 x 4 x 3 cm, looking like a degenerated myoma. The patient underwent a radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. Histopathological findings, including immunohistochemical study, led to the diagnosis of a LGSS of the endocervix, which was in close relation with endometriotic foci. Our case represents an extrauterine low-grade ESS arising in the endocervix, where a problem in the differential diagnosis was encountered and which was finally treated only with surgery. Adjuvant treatment of ESS is controversial. Generally, low-grade ESS is associated with good prognosis and long overall and disease-free survival.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, School of Medicine, Aretaieion Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hasiakos
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Papakonstantinou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kondi-Paphiti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fotiou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology