[A classification of uterine tumors based on embryogenesis]

On the basis of their results of studies of human embryos and foetuses, the authors believe that the myometrium is derived from the primitive mesenchyme, while the endometrium is derived from the coelomic mesothelium. The myometrium is the site of non-specific tumours common to all soft tissues (of other organs): leiomyoma, lipoleiomyoma, leiomyoblastoma, leiomyosarcoma; vascular tumours: angioma, haemangiopericytoma. The endometrium is the site of tumours derived either from the epithelial contingent (of glandular tubules): adenoma, adenocarcinoma; or from the epithelio-connective tissue contingents: mullerian dysplasia, carcinosarcoma (homologous mixed mesodermal tumour). The authors classify heterologous mixed mesodermal tumours in a separate group; they believe that they constitute true mixed mesodermal tumours derived from two cell clones: one of mullerian origin and the other derived from the primitive mesenchyme.