Angiosarcoma of the uterus: a light microscopic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study

A 71-year-old woman who presented with severe vaginal bleeding was found to have a uterine angiosarcoma after total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical studies that showed positive staining of tumor cells for factor VIII-related antigen and by ultrastructural studies revealing vasoformative structures surrounded by a thin basal lamina. Primary vascular tumors of the uterus are rare. The existence of malignant vascular neoplasms of the uterus has been questioned, and at most nine previously reported cases have been generally accepted as valid examples of uterine angiosarcoma. Based on those cases, the prognosis of uterine angiosarcoma is poor. Our studies demonstrate that angiosarcoma does occur in the uterus. Our patient is presently alive with recurrent disease.