Endometrial stromal sarcoma

Cancers arising from mesodermal structures like muscles and connective tissue are called sarcomas. Sarcomas of the uterus are uncommon, and may arise from connective tissue, smooth muscle or the endometrial stroma. Uterine sarcoma is a rare form of malignancy, occurring in 2–5% of all patients with uterine malignancy, with an incidence of approximately one to two cases per 100,000 women in the general population. Endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESSs) are very rare malignant tumors that make up approximately 10% of all uterine sarcomas but only around 0.2% of all uterine malignancies. [1] CaSE REPORT A 30-year-old lady presented with increased bleeding per vagina during periods since 1 year. She was a Para1, Live1, with last child birth 10 years back and no history of contraceptive use. She had attained menarchy at the age of 14, and her previous cycles were normal. However, for the past 1 year, her cycles were prolonged, lasting for 15–20 days/2–3 months. She was investigated for secondary infertility in a local hospital 1 year back and was treated with clomiphene citrate for three to four cycles. A pelvic scan taken 11 months back showed normal-sized uterus with a fibroid 3.7 cm×3.4 cm in the anterior myometrium. Endometrial thickness was 8 mm. A dilatation and curettage was performed and microscopy showed a disordered A B S T R A C T Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is a rare malignant tumor of the endometrium, occurring in the age group of 40–50 years. t his is a case of low-grade ESS presenting as rapid enlargement of a fibroid uterus. Because of her secondary infertility, she was planned for myomectomy. However, due to the high degree of suspicion of a sarcomatous change in the fibroid, in view of rapid enlargement of uterus within the last 4 months, we planned for a preoperative endometrial aspiration. It showed low-grade ESS, which was later confirmed by histopathology examination of total hysterectomy specimen. a s surgery was the main treatment for ESS, because of the proper preoperative diagnosis, we could plan the treatment accordingly. despite the rarity of the tumor, one has to consider the possibility of ESS in cases with presentation of rapid enlargement of a fibroid uterus. Key words: Endometrial stromal sarcoma, rapid enlargement of fibroid uterus, uterine sarcoma DOI: 10.4103/0971-5851.68848 Endometrial stromal sarcoma C a S E r E P O r twww.ijmpo.org Article published online: 2021-11-19 22 Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol | Jan-Mar 2010 | Vol 31 | Issue 1 myometrium, were noted [Figure 3]. A section from the right fallopian tube showed neoplastic cells in dilated lymphatic spaces [Figure 4]. The cervix and ovaries were normal. The case was confirmed to be a low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma stage 3, and she was referred to a regional cancer center.

ESSs are very rare malignant tumors. Based on tumor margin status and cytological features, the WHO has classified endometrial stromal tumor into benign endometrial stromal nodule (ESN) and endometrial stromal sarcoma. ESN does not infiltrate the myometrium. They are well circumscribed, with a pushing margin. ESSs infiltrate the myometrium and are characterized by proliferation of uniform small cells closely resembling those of endometrial stroma in the proliferative stage. [2] ESS can be divided into low-grade and high-grade tumors according to cell morphology and mitotic count. Low- grade ESS usually occur in the young population (mean age 39 years), contrary to the high-grade ESS (mean age 61 years). Low-grade ESSs have less-frequent mitosis (<3 per 10 high-power fields) and they do not show hemorrhage and necrosis. [3] Some authors have regarded high grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (HGESS) as an undifferentiated sarcoma.[4] Most ESSs involve the endometrium, and uterine curettage usually leads to diagnosis.[2] The main differential diagnosis of low-grade ESS includes ESN, cellular leiomyoma and cellular intravenous leiomyomatosis. [5] The microscopic appearance of ESS and ESN are identical. Infiltrative margins and distinctive growth as worm-like cords are noted in low-grade ESS, whereas the margins are well demarcated in ESN. Hence, extensive sampling of tumor margins and detecting vascular invasion are extremely important in distinguishing between the two. Cellular leiomyomas are composed of cells with spindle-shaped Figure 1: Endometrial aspiration: histopathological examination (HPE), endometrial glands in the secretory phase (arrow) with neoplastic cells suggestive of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma Figure 3: Tumor (arrow) almost perforating right side of the myometrium Figure 2: HPE (high power) showing uniform oval or spindle-shaped cells Figure 4: Section from the fallopian tube showing neoplastic cells in dilated lymphatic spaces Geetha, et al.: Endometrial stromal sarcoma Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol | Jan-Mar 2010 | Vol 31 | Issue 1 23 nuclei with a fascicular growth pattern, thick muscular- walled vessels, cleft-like spaces and showing focal merging with the adjacent myometrium.[6] In low-grade ESS, cords of tumor cells infiltrate between smooth muscle and within lymphatic spaces. The neoplastic stromal cells resemble those of the proliferative endometrium, are monotonous in appearance and have a uniform size and shape. The nuclei are round to ovoid, with fine chromatin, and a small nucleoli is seen. A small amount of cytoplasm is present and cell borders are indistinct. Mitotic activity is low (<10/10 high- power fields). [5] About a third to a half of the low-grade ESS have extrauterine spread at the time of diagnosis. When there is a difficulty in diagnosing between ESS and cellular leiomyoma, immunoreactivity with antibodies to CD10 and smooth muscle actin and desmin are used. [7] Surgery is the final resort for diagnosis and primary treatment of ESS. Preoperative diagnosis is mostly a uterine fibroid. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging are inconclusive. If the diagnosis is known, the extent of surgery is planned according to the stage of the tumor. The FIGO staging for carcinoma of the corpus uteri has been applied to ESS. The treatment is total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic and periaortic selective lymphadenectomy. Cytologic washings are obtained from the pelvis and abdomen. Hormone therapy with medroxy progesterone, tamoxifen, gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues and aromatase inhibitors are suggested for low-grade ESS stage 3–4 and for recurrent disease.[8,9]

Because of the rarity of the tumor, ESS may not be familiar to the gynaecologists. In young patients, it could be mistaken for a fibroid and more conservative management may have been planned accordingly. High degree of suspicion in a rapidly enlarged uterus led to an endometrial aspiration in this case, which showed low-grade ESS. Therefore, the treatment plan was shifted from a conservative myomectomy to a laparotomy, total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-opherectomy. The case highlights the necessity for high degree of suspicion and proper preoperative diagnosis in this rare type of tumor, especially in young patients.

1. ashraf-Ganjoei t, Behtash N, Shariat M, Mosavi a. low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma of uterine corpus, a clinico-pathological and survey study in 14 cases. World J Surg Oncol 2006;4:50. 2. Policarpio-Nicolas Ml, Cathro HP, Kerr SE, Stelow EB. Cytomorphologic features of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma. am J Clin Pathol 2007;128:265-71. 3. Koyama t, togashi K, Konishi I, Kobayashi H, Ueda H, Kataoka Ml, et al . Mr imaging of endometrial stromal sarcoma: Correlation with pathologic findings. AJR Am J roentgenol 1999;173:767-72. 4. Amant F, Vergote I, Moerman P. The classification of uterine sarcoma as ‘high grade endometrial stromal sarcoma’ should be abandoned. Gynecol Oncol 2004;95:412-3. 5. Oliva E, Clement PB, Young rH. Endometrial stromal tumours: an update on a group of tumours with a protean phenotype. adv anat Pathol 2000;7:257-81. 6. Sumathi VP, McCluggage WG. Cd10 is useful in demonstrating endometrial stroma at ectopic sites and in confirming a diagnosis of endometriosis. J Clin Pathol 2002;55:391-2. 7. Baker P, Oliva E. Endometrial stromal tumours of the uterus: a practical approach using conventional morphology and ancillary techniques. J Clin Pathol 2007;60:235-43. 8. NCCN Clinical practice guidelines in oncology. Uterine neoplasms. Vol 2. 2009. 9. linder t, Pink d, Kretzschmar a, Mrozek a, Patience PC, reichardt P. Hormone treatment of endometrial stromal sarcomas: a possible indication for aromatase inhibitors. J Clin Oncol 2005;23:16S : 9057. Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None declared. Geetha, et al.: Endometrial stromal sarcoma Staying in touch with the journal 1) Table of Contents (TOC) email alert Receive an email alert containing the TOC when a new complete issue of the journal is made available online. To register for TOC alerts go to www.ijmpo.org/signup.asp. 2) RSS feeds Really Simple Syndication (RSS) helps you to get alerts on new publication right on your desktop without going to the journal’s website. You need a software (e.g. RSSReader, Feed Demon, FeedReader, My Yahoo!, NewsGator and NewzCrawler) to get advantage of this tool. RSS feeds can also be read through FireFox or Microsoft Outlook 2007. Once any of these small (and mostly free) software is installed, add www.ijmpo.org/rssfeed.asp as one of the feeds.