Sarcomatous Overgrowth Research Articles

Malignant phyllodes tumor with chondro and osteosarcomatous differentiation and secondaries in lungs

Phyllodes tumor is a rare breast tumor, with neoplastic epithelial and stromal components for 10 cm in size and firm in consistency. She underwent left mastectomy. The histopathology revealed a malignant phyllodes tumor with sarcomatous stromal overgrowth and heterogeneous chondro and osteosarcomatous differentiation. At 2 months after surgery, she reported to us with secondaries in bilateral lungs. We planned palliative chemotherapy in view of good general condition of the patient and lung metastasis. Chemotherapy included ifosfamide, adriamycin and cisplatin as per standard regimen every 3 weekly. After three cycles, her lung metastasis cleared completely. It was planned to continue same chemotherapy for six cycles.

Cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy in the management of recurrent high-grade uterine sarcoma with peritoneal dissemination

Peritoneal sarcomatosis from primary uterine sarcoma (US) is a rare condition. Conventional therapeutic modalities have failed to improve survival and outcomes among patients with high-grade US with extrapelvic spread. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has shown improved outcomes for peritoneal carcinomatosis from other epithelial primaries with similar clinical presentation. We report our experience applying this treatment in 3 patients with recurrent high-grade US with peritoneal dissemination. This retrospective review of a prospective database of 378 patients with peritoneal dissemination of cancer treated with CRS/HIPEC identified 3 patients with recurrent high-grade US. Follow-up for disease progression was carried out by physical examination and computed tomography scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis. Two leiomyosarcomas and 1 adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth were identified. Two of the 3 had failed standard treatment with surgery and systemic chemotherapy before CRS/HIPEC was performed. Follow-up ranged from 34 to 140 months. All 3 patients are alive, 2 with no evidence of disease (NED), and 1 alive with disease. Adramycin/cisplatin was used for HIPEC in 1 case (140 months with NED), whereas melphalan was used in the other 2 cases (53 months alive with disease, 34 months with NED). Two patients underwent 1 CRS/HIPEC, whereas 1 required 3 CRS/HIPEC due to disease recurrence. CRS/HIPEC shows promise as a treatment modality for the management of selected patients with recurrent high-grade US with peritoneal dissemination. Further studies are warranted.

Uterine adenosarcomas: A dual-institution update on staging, prognosis and survival

ObjectiveUterine adenosarcomas (AS) are rare tumors thought to have a favorable prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcome in women with uterine AS. MethodsPatients with uterine AS were identified from the institutional databases at two regional cancer centers, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto and Vancouver General Hospital. All cases underwent specialist pathological review and were re-staged according to FIGO criteria (2009). Patient demographics, treatment data and outcomes were evaluated. ResultsBetween 1984 and 2010, 64 patients with confirmed AS were identified: 30 exhibited sarcomatous overgrowth (AS+SO). 47 patients presented with stage I disease: 27 IA and 18 IB. 57 of the 58 patients with known surgical management underwent hysterectomy: 55 having bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, 12 having lymph node dissection. 14 patients received adjuvant treatment: 10 radiotherapy, 3 chemotherapy and 1 both. Sixteen of the 45 patients (35.6%) with follow-up recurred; median time to recurrence 21.2months, range 2.1–87.8months. Recurrence was associated with myometrial invasion (p=0.05). Two of the 10 women (20%) with AS+SO receiving adjuvant treatment recurred compared to 9 of the 14 (64%) who did not. One of the 5 women (20%) with stage IB disease who received adjuvant treatment recurred (20%) compared to 6 of the 7 (85.6%) who did not. ConclusionsLong term surveillance is required given the variable time to recurrence. For those with AS+SO and myometrial invasion adjuvant treatment should be considered and further investigation of adjuvant strategies is warranted.

Uterine adenosarcoma: A closer look at a rare disease

Objective: Uterine adenosarcoma (AS) is a rare disease and standard therapy remains elusive. We aimed to review treatment and outcomes for patients diagnosed with uterine AS with high-risk features, including heterologous elements and sarcomatous overgrowth (SO).

Clinical benefit of trabectedin in uterine adenosarcoma

Uterine adenosarcoma is an extremely rare uterine malignancy, and the utility of chemotherapy in this disease is not well defined. This study assessed the safety and efficacy of trabectedin in patients with recurrent/metastatic uterine adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth. A retrospective search of a prospectively maintained database was performed to identify patients with adenosarcoma treated with trabectedin between 2010 and 2012, within a compassionate use trial. Three patients with recurrent/metastatic uterine adenosarcoma treated with trabectedin were identified. All three patients tolerated the drug well. Two patients obtained prolonged clinical benefit from treatment, one having received 17 cycles and another 11 cycles of therapy. Trabectedin is well tolerated and has clinical activity in recurrent/metastatic uterine adenosarcoma.

Osteoid differentiation in mesodermal (mullerian) adenosarcoma of ovary

A 55-year-old female presented with abdominal pain and 10 cm mass per abdominal examination. Computerized tomography scan of abdomen and pelvis revealed a heterogeneously enhancing solid cystic mass right ovarian mass and mild ascites. Surgery was performed. Specimens were sent for examination. Microscopic examination revealed an admixture of benign but occasionally atypical appearing mullerian type glands with sarcomatous stroma. Solid area showed undifferentiated tumour cells. Atypical mitoses and necrosis were also seen. Areas with extensive benign osteoid surrounded by fibroblastic stroma were also present. Glandular component showed positivity for CK-7, AE-1 and EMA while sarcomatous areas showed positivity for vimentin only. Mullerian adenosarcoma of ovary with sarcomatous overgrowth (SO) having heterologous component was confirmed. Postoperative 3 cycles of chemotherapy was given and the patient was well till date (three months after surgery).

Autopsy: failed intubation – what was the cause?

Aim and Methods A 77-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department with profound shortness of breath. The intubation failed due to upper airway obstruction and subsequently he underwent cri-cothyroidotomy. He had a cardiac arrest for up to 20 minutes in the Emergency Department. He was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. He showed evidence of global ischaemia of the brain and his life support equipment was stopped after 3 days. His past medical history included beta thalassaemia and C3 to C7 laminectomy for severe cervical myelopathy 4 months prior to his death. Results The autopsy revealed a polypoid laryngeal tumour 3.2 cm in maximum dimension arising from the right vocal cord. The tumour extended to the glottic and supraglottic spaces. The superior aspect of the tumour was visible behind the epiglottis. Histologically, the tumour was a carcinosarcoma with squamous cell carcinoma and osteosarcoma component with sarcomatous component overgrowth. Discussion Carcinosarcoma of the larynx is a very rare tumour predominantly occurring in elderly males. They are rapidly growing polypoid tumours which often present with acute airway obstruction. In this case, the retrospective review of the MRI performed 4 months ago for the cervical laminectomy showed a 0.7 cm nodule on the vocal cord.

Management of uterine adenosarcomas with and without sarcomatous overgrowth

ObjectivesUterine adenosarcomas (AS) are rare tumors composed of malignant stromal and benign epithelial components. We sought to evaluate the role of primary surgery, adjuvant treatments, and salvage therapies for patients with uterine adenosarcomas. MethodsWe identified all patients diagnosed with AS from 1990 to 2009 at our institution. Patient demographics, surgical procedures, sites of metastatic disease, and histologic features (e.g., presence of sarcomatous overgrowth, and heterologous elements) were collected. Treatment regimens and survival outcomes were evaluated. ResultsThirty-one patients were evaluable for this study: 19 (61%) received up-front treatment at our institution and 12 (39%) received treatment for recurrent disease. Most of the up-front treated patients (15, 79%) were diagnosed with stage I disease and underwent hysterectomy (100%) with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (84%). Of the 19 patients treated at our institution from time of initial diagnosis, 5 (26%) patients recurred (median follow-up, 72.9months; range, 3–154). In 5 patients with sarcomatous overgrowth (AS+SO), the 2-year progression-free and overall survival rates were both 20% versus 100% for 14 patients without sarcomatous overgrowth. Responses to systemic treatment of measurable disease were observed in patients with and without sarcomatous overgrowth, but no optimal treatment strategy could be identified for either groups. ConclusionsUnlike AS without sarcomatous overgrowth, AS+SO is an aggressive disease with a high recurrence rate. In our series, no optimal adjuvant or systemic treatment strategy was identifiable but standard sarcoma chemotherapy regimens appear to have efficacy in both AS and AS+SO.

High-grade Sarcomatous Overgrowth in Solitary Fibrous Tumors

We describe 10 solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) with high-grade malignant overgrowth, all of which showed the presence of a synchronous or previous classic SFT/malignant SFT (MSFT) component. Seven were "dedifferentiated," with an abrupt transition from a classic SFT/MSFT to a high-grade component consisting of a nondistinctive high-grade sarcoma in 4 cases and divergent differentiation in 3. The nondistinctive high-grade component consisted of epithelioid and/or spindle cells often associated with overt pleomorphism or small round cell sarcomas. The divergent differentiation featured a rhabdomyosarcoma in 2 cases and an osteosarcoma in 1. Three cases (tentatively called "evolved") showed a gradual transition from classic SFT/MSFT to a nondistinctive high-grade sarcoma or presented features of high-grade sarcoma at the time of metastasis (assessed by fine-needle aspiration cytology) without any component suggesting a diagnosis of classic SFT/MSFT. The high-grade component showed loss of CD34 expression in half of the dedifferentiated SFTs and all of the dedifferentiated SFTs with divergent differentiation, whereas Ki-67 was markedly increased in all of the evaluable cases and paralleled the tumor grade. In 4 cases, the expression and phosphorylation status of key factors that control transcription and protein synthesis were also investigated. Both S6 and 4E-BP1 showed low activation in the low-grade MSFT and a high level of activation in the high-grade component. Seven of the 10 patients died of their disease during follow-up, with a median overall survival of 73 months (range, 5 to 288 mo). The median time to distant metastasis was 156 months after the initial diagnosis, and median overall survival from the first signs of metastasis was 8 months.

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.

Mullerian Adenosaroma of the Cervix with Sarcomatous Overgrowth and Heterologous Elements Presenting as a Recurrent Cervical Polyp

Mullerian adenosarcoma of the cervix is a rare tumor composed of benign epithelial and malignant stromal components. Sarcomatous overgrowth and heterologous elements in cervical adenosarcoma are extremely infrequent. We report the case of a 26-year-old woman admitted at the gynaecology department for a painless mass protruding from her vagina. The initial pathological exam concluded to endocervical polyp. Six months later, the patient was readmitted with a recurrence of the polyp. The pathological exam demonstrated interlacing fascicles of elongated spindle cells with few mitotic activity and no glandular formation. After reviewing of the initial polyp the diagnosis of mullerian adenosarcoma was suggested. A second recurrence of the polyp was noted one month later. Histopathological exam of the recurrent polyp confirmed the diagnosis of adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth and heterologous elements. The patient was lost for follow-up. Cervical adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth and heterologous element is a rare tumor that occurs in younger age in contrast to endometrium/corpus uterin mullerian adenosarcoma. In young women with recurrent cervical polyp, mullerian adenosarcoma must be considered and should be excluded by careful histopathological exam. Sarcomatous overgrowth and myometrial invasion are the most important prognostic factors. Treatment strategy is still unclear.

Clinicopathological spectrum of 19 adenosarcomas of female genital tract, including uncommon clinical associations and immunohistochemical profile, reviewed at a single institution

Adenosarcomas of the female genital tract have been rarely documented as case series from our continent. Over a seven-year period, 19 adenosarcomas were critically reviewed. Nineteen tumors occurred in the age range of 21-65 years (mean: 43), in the endometrium (8), endometrium and cervix (4), cervix (4), and ovary (3). Four cases displayed coexisting leiomyomas; two, adenomyosis; two on background endometriosis; and one in post-treated cervix carcinoma. Histopathologically, the tumors were low grade (10; 52.6%) and high grade (9; 47.3%), the latter with sarcomatous overgrowth (SO) (7/9 cases). Dedifferentiation (8, 42.1%) and conspicuous decidualization (2) were noted. Immunohistochemically, the tumors focally expressed CD10 (4/6), smooth muscle actin (SMA) (3/8), desmin (8/11); diffuse vimentin (7/7), and estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR) (2/4). Ki-67 (6 cases) varied 5-20%. Seventeen patients underwent surgery and four received adjuvant treatment (3/4 high-grade tumors). Five tumors recurred (4 high-grade tumors with SO) and one metastasized. Among 11 patients, five were alive with disease (AWD) (mean: 29.4 months) and six, free of disease (FOD) (mean: 15 months), the latter mostly with low-grade type tumors (83.3% cases). Diverse clinicopathological spectrum was noted within adenosarcomas. Low-grade tumors were less aggressive than high-grade ones, with SO. Immunohistochemically, lower CD10 and ER/PR positivity was noted in high-grade tumors. Surgery formed the mainstay of treatment. Adjuvant treatment was offered in high-grade subtypes, including in tumors with SO.

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 (P2 + 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.

Does myometrial invasion confer a poorer prognosis in uterine adenosarcoma?

Objective: Uterine adenosarcomas are rare tumors that are often diagnosed at an early stage and characterized as having a low potential for metastasis. Despite this, several studies have identified prognostic factors such as myometrial invasion, sarcomatous overgrowth, and tumor cell necrosis that confer a poorer prognosis. Our objective was to review the clinicopathologic features of uterine adenosarcomas treated at our institution and identify prognostic features.

Uterine sarcomas: a multidisciplinary challenge

With an incidence lower than 1/100,000/year, uterine sarcomas are a rare subgroup within the rare family of sarcomas, giving rise to 1% of female malignancies. However, they are a variegated set of malignancies, encompassing leiomyosarcomas, endometrial stromal sarcomas, undifferentiated endometrial sarcomas and adenosarcomas [1]. Another group, malignant mixed mesodermal tumours, are currently regarded as metaplastic (aggressive) endometrial carcinomas, i.e. epithelial tumours in nature, not sarcomas [2]. Both the low incidence and the heterogeneity of uterine sarcomas pose their first multidisciplinary challenge, inasmuch as a correct pathological diagnosis is crucial to proper management. Even the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant tumours can be problematic. One may recall the existence of a distinct entity among smooth muscle tumours, i.e. smooth muscle tumours of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP), whose behaviour is by definition unpredictable pathologically, and of benign metastasising leiomyoma and disseminated peritoneal leiomyomatosis, i.e. benign smooth muscle tumours presenting with metastatic dissemination [3]. Improvements in the pathological classification, and grading systems, for all these tumours are highly necessary. Endometrial stromal sarcomas are low-grade malignancies, although the relapse rate after surgery of localised disease is relatively high, possibly amounting to one third of cases, although over a long period. Pathologically, these tumours are marked by their positivity for oestrogen and progesterone receptors. This underlies the efficacy in the advanced disease setting of progestins, aromatase inhibitors and gondadotropin-releasing hormone analogues [4]. Responses are frequent and long-lasting, also owing to the natural history of these tumours, even when metastatic. For this reason, surgery of lung metastases is an option to consider within a multidisciplinary approach. The usefulness of adjuvant hormonal therapies is still an open issue, given the relapse rate and the hormonal sensitivity of these tumours [5]. Bilateral oophorectomy, in addition to total abdominal hysterectomy for local treatment, also has an adjuvant intent. Currently, endometrial stromal sarcomas are conceptually separated from undifferentiated endometrial sarcomas, although a de-differentiation process of some endometrial stromal sarcomas into high-grade sarcomas may occasionally take place [6]. Undifferentiated endometrial sarcomas are inherently high-grade malignancies (pathologically marked by a high mitotic rate, cellular pleomorphism and necrosis), which are insensitive to hormonal therapy and clinically aggressive. This considered, an aggressive, multidisciplinary approach to this rare entity is logical. Medical therapy must resort to standard agents for high-grade softtissue sarcomas. On the contrary, adenosarcomas are low-grade malignancies encompassing a benign epithelial component and a low-malignant mesenchymal one. Their good prognosis is unfavourably affected when a truly sarcomatous overgrowth or myometrial invasion is present [7]. Uterine leiomyosarcomas are cured in less than one half of cases by total abdominal hysterectomy, with size and pelvic extent as the main prognostic factors. Improvements in grading systems would be required, in order to refine the prognostic value of pathological assessment. Radiation therapy did not add to surgery alone in a large randomised trial [8], in spite of positive evidence provided by uncontrolled and retrospective studies as far as the local regional relapse rate is concerned [9]. This may leave room for individualised decision-making on radiation therapy in some cases, depending on the surgical outcome and anatomical considerations. Of course, radiation therapy can be useful in local regional relapses. The efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy is an open issue in soft-tissue sarcomas, and therefore in uterine leiomyosarcomas as well. These are essentially insensitive to hormonal therapies, although hormonal receptors are found in the tumour tissue in a proportion of cases and there is anecdotal evidence of hormonal sensitivity in occasional patients. Medical therapy in the advanced disease resorts to agents active in

Mullerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth in the pelvic cavity extending into the inferior vena cava and the right atrium

Mullerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth in the pelvic cavity extending into the inferior vena cava and the right atrium

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

BackgroundUterine 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 PresentationWe 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.ConclusionsThe 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.

Pathologic and molecular features of uterine carcinosarcomas

Uterine carcinosarcomas (UCSs), formerly known as malignant mixed müllerian tumors, are uncommon neoplasias that account for <5% of uterine malignancies. Traditionally, UCSs have been considered a subtype of sarcoma and the staging system and adjuvant oncological treatments used have been similar to those used for high-grade uterine sarcomas. However, there is now enough clinical, pathologic, and biological evidence to consider UCSs more closely related to high-grade endometrial carcinomas. Thus, these tumors should be staged based on the surgicopathologic staging system used for endometrial carcinomas. Morphologically, UCSs are heterogeneous biphasic tumors composed of an admixture of malignant (endometrioid and nonendometrioid) epithelial and (homologous and heterologous) mesenchymal elements in different proportions. UCSs predominantly metastasize as carcinomas and they are associated with a poor prognosis. Although stage is a consistent prognostic factor, the significance of several histopathological features, such as myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space involvement, type of carcinomatous component, extent of the sarcomatous component, and the presence of heterologous elements, remains controversial and probably differs among different stages. Although the diagnosis of UCS is not difficult in most cases, the differential diagnosis may include entities such as undifferentiated or dedifferentiated carcinoma, endometrioid adenocarcinoma with spindle cell elements, sarcomatous overgrowth in a low-grade müllerian adenosarcoma, and pure malignant mesenchymal tumors. Genetic and molecular studies have confirmed the clonal origin of most UCSs and have shown these tumors to be similar to those observed in high-grade/nonendometrioid carcinomas, with p53 mutations being the most common molecular alteration. Finally, from a biological standpoint, the process by which epithelial malignant cells of UCS transdifferentiate to malignant mesenchymal cells could be considered a true example of epithelial mesenchymal transition in human neoplasias.

Mullerian Adenosarcoma of the Female Genital Tract

Mullerian adenosarcoma is an uncommon, but not rare, mixed tumor containing a neoplastic but benign or mildly atypical epithelial element and a sarcomatous, usually low-grade, stromal component. The most common site is the uterine corpus but adenosarcoma also occurs in the cervix and ovary and more rarely in the vagina, fallopian tube, arising from peritoneal surfaces, or outside the female genital tract, for example in the intestine. Most uterine cases have a polypoid gross appearance, sometimes resulting in the formation of multiple polyps. Characteristic histologic features include a low power "phyllodes-like" architecture with leaf-like projections lined by a variety of benign Mullerian type epithelia, sometimes with squamous metaplasia. Intraglandular stromal protrusions are a characteristic feature. The stroma may be uniformly cellular but there is typically increased cellularity around the epithelial elements, resulting in the formation of a cambium layer. Using the World Health Organization definition, stromal mitotic activity of 2 or more per 10 high-power fields is required for a diagnosis of adenosarcoma but in practice the diagnosis is made with stromal mitotic activity less than this if the characteristic architecture and cambium layer is present. The stromal component is usually morphologically "low-grade" and of endometrial stromal or fibroblastic type (hormone receptor and CD10 positive). Sometimes it is high grade, resembling undifferentiated sarcoma. Additional features sometimes present include heterologous stromal elements or sex cord-like differentiation. Uterine adenosarcomas are, in general, low-grade neoplasms capable of local recurrence after polypectomy or hysterectomy and much less commonly distant metastasis. The 2 most important adverse prognostic factors, which sometimes coexist, are deep myometrial invasion and sarcomatous overgrowth; the latter is usually associated with morphologically "high-grade" stromal elements with loss of expression of hormone receptors and CD10. Adenosarcoma may be confused with a variety of lesions and one of the main differential diagnoses is adenofibroma in which the stromal component is, by definition, morphologically benign. However, occasional adenofibromas recur or even metastasize. As such, it has been suggested that all adenofibromas should be classified as adenosarcomas, albeit with low-malignant potential. Ovarian adenosarcomas are much more likely to exhibit malignant behavior than their uterine counterparts, probably due to the lack of an anatomic barrier to peritoneal dissemination.

Mullerian adenosarcoma (heterologous) of the cervix with sarcomatous overgrowth: a case report with review of literature

Mullerian adenosarcoma is a rare biphasic malignant neoplasm of the cervix characterized by an admixture of benign epithelial elements and a malignant sarcomatous stromal component, which may be either homologous or heterologous. An aggressive variant of adenosarcoma, mullerian adenosarcoma with sarcomatous overgrowth (MASO) is extremely rare, with only two such cases being reported in the English literature to date. In this report we present a case of MASO of uterine cervix with heterologous elements in a 15-year-old unmarried girl presenting with foul smelling menstrual bleeding and passage of fleshy masses. Because MASO with heterologous elements seems to appear at the earliest stages of reproductive lifespan in women, and have an uncertain malignant potential, gynecologists and pathologists should be aware and think about the possibility of this tumor.