Endometrial stromal sarcoma: clinicopathological and immunophenotype study of 18 cases

Malignant tumors of the uterine corpus are uncommon. They originate from the endometrial stroma, smooth muscle, blood vessels, or from a mixture of them. The objective of this article was to know the frequency and the clinical, morphologic, and immunophenotype characteristics of the endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS). We reviewed the cases of ESS observed from 2002 to 2008 at the Pathology Unit of the General Hospital of Mexico. The following data were analyzed: age, clinical stage, degree of differentiation, and immunophenotype. We found 18 cases, and the average age of patients was 48.6 years; 66% were in clinical stages 1 and 2. Fifteen cases (83.3%) were classified as low-grade sarcomas and 3 (16.6%) as high-grade or undifferentiated sarcomas. We determined immunohistochemical markers in 17 cases; receptors to estrogens were positive in 5 (29.4%) and to progesterone in 9 (52.9%). CD10 was expressed in 10 (58.8%) and p53 in 11 cases (64.7%). Two cases were associated to primary tumors of the ovary (papillary cystadenocarcinoma). In conclusion, ESS was present at 0.6% in our institution; and most were low grade. Expression of markers, such as p53, CD10, and hormonal receptors, was positive.