[Histopathologic and cytologic studies on uterine sarcomas (author's transl)]

Non-epithelial tumors originating in the uterus are a relatively rare affliction, accounting for less than 3% of all malignant uterine neoplasms. For this reason, there are at present few cytological reports on these sarcoma, so that histological determination on the basis of cytological diagnosis becomes quite difficult. On this occasion, We are privileged to report on cytological examinations we have made over the past decade on six cases involving uterine sarcomas in the course of our practise at the Iwate Medical University School of Medicine. The histological diagnosis of these tumor were Leiomyosarcoma (1 case) Mixed mesodermal tumor (1 case). Rhabdomyosarcoma (1 case). Carcinosarcoma (2 cases), and Mixed cell sarcoma (1 case). The cytologic findings of these tumor cells in vaginal smear and aspiration smear of uterine cavity are as follows: 1) In all cases, We observed the appearance of tumor cells of undifferentiated non-epithelial origin, showing an almost identical configuration. 2) Also, in these various sarcomas, We confirmed distinctive tumor cells from which histologic type could be inferred. This suggested the possibility of histologic type diagnosis on the basis of cytological diagnosis.