Sarcomatous Transformation in Undifferentiated/Dedifferentiated Endometrial Carcinoma: An Underrecognized Phenomenon and Diagnostic Pitfall

Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2020 Sep;39(5):485-492. doi: 10.1097/PGP.0000000000000635.

Abstract

Undifferentiated/dedifferentiated carcinoma is an aggressive endometrial carcinoma which remains underrecognized but may account for up to 9% of all endometrial malignancies. We describe 3 cases in which the undifferentiated component was associated with sarcomatous differentiation, characterized by spindled cells in 2 cases and heterologous malignant cartilage in 1 case. Two of the 3 cases demonstrated mismatch repair deficiency by immunohistochemistry. This phenomenon has not previously been formally reported and increases the likelihood of misdiagnosis, especially within biopsy samples; differential diagnoses may include endometrial stromal sarcoma and grade 3 endometrioid adenocarcinoma with spindled morphology. We review the current literature and provide strategies for resolving the differential diagnoses, with a suggested panel of antibodies which includes EMA, E-cadherin, and mismatch repair proteins as approximately 50% of cases show loss of mismatch repair expression.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies / analysis*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Carcinoma, Endometrioid / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma, Endometrioid / pathology
  • Cell Dedifferentiation
  • Chondrosarcoma / diagnosis*
  • Chondrosarcoma / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Endometrium / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Middle Aged
  • Uterine Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Biomarkers, Tumor