Related Experiment Videos
Postmenopausal intra-abdominal desmoplastic small cell tumor
1Department of Pathology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Pathology International
|April 1, 1996
Summary
Desmoplastic small cell tumor (DSCT) is rare in older women. This case highlights DSCT in a 60-year-old female, emphasizing its unusual presentation and diagnostic considerations.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Desmoplastic small cell tumor (DSCT) is a rare and aggressive malignancy.
- Typically, DSCT affects young males and occurs within the abdomen.
Observation:
- A case of DSCT in a 60-year-old female is presented, with the tumor originating in the mesocolon.
- The tumor exhibited diverse cellular morphology, including epithelioid and sarcomatous features.
- Immunohistochemical analysis revealed complex marker expression, and electron microscopy indicated mesenchymal-fibroblastic differentiation.
Findings:
- The tumor demonstrated aneuploid DNA content and a high S-phase fraction.
- The patient experienced multiple recurrences despite adjuvant chemotherapy, with increasing cellular atypia noted in recurrent lesions.
- The case underscores the potential for DSCT to present atypically in post-menopausal women.
Implications:
- DSCT should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pelvic tumors with heterogeneous phenotypes in older women.
- This case expands the known demographic profile of DSCT.
- Further research into the biology and treatment of atypical DSCT presentations is warranted.