Uterine serous papillary carcinoma clinical and immunopathological study of 9 cases

From January 1993 to December 1998, nine patients with serous papillary endometrial carcinoma (SPEC) were diagnosed and treated at the 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Areteion University Hospital. The incidence of SPEC in our Clinic was 6.77%. The mean age of patients was 65.5 years (range 54-82 years). All patients underwent total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and epiploectomy. Abdominal and para-aortic lymph node sampling was performed in all cases and peritoneal washings were examined cytologically. Histological sections of the specimens, stained with haematoxylin-eosin, were retrieved from the Laboratory of Pathology and re-evaluated by two pathologists. All cases conformed to the diagnostic criteria for SPEC. Immunohistochemical studies were performed in paraffin blocks retrieved from the files, by a streptavidin-viotin method for the detection of vimentin (ENZO monoclonal ab), secretory component (DAKO polyclonal ab), CEA (DAKO monoclonal ab), EMA (DAKO monoclonal ab). The hormonal receptor status, assessed by appropriate positive and negative controls, was studied as well. The presence of mucin and glycogen was studied by histochemical reaction, PAS, PAS diastase and mucicarmine. Serous papillary carcinoma is an unusual but distinct type of endometrical adenocarcinoma, a non-hormonal dependent tumor, with aggressive biologic behavior. Its recognition is mandatory for a correct therapeutic approach.