Search Frames
Search No frames
PathWeb Home
©
Feed Back
About
Adenosquamous carcinoma of Endometrium (Low Power)
Click on Image to Enlarge it
Adenosquamous carcinoma of Endometrium (Low Power)

Several malignant glands are identified.
The lumens contain neutrophils.
The blue arrow points to a keratin pearl.
(Description By:Melinda Sanders, M.D. )
(Image Contrib. by:Melinda Sanders, M.D. UCHC )
Adenocarcinoma with Squamous Differentiation
Etiology

associated with unopposed estrogen use
may be exogenous (non-cycled estrogens) but generally
endogenous due to peripheral aromatization of adrenal androgens by adipose in obese women
also associated with granulosa cell tumors and other estro- gen producing ovarian tumors as well as polycystic ovary syndrome
small group of women with high grade neoplasms lack evidence of hyperestrinism
Pathogenesis

estrogen drives continued proliferation with eventual acquisition of somatic mutations
in the absence of progesterone maturation of the endometrium and spiral arteries never occurs, nor does regular menses,
Epidemiology

obese post-menopausal women
may also have diabetes and hypertension (classic triad)
small group of women with high grade neoplasms lacks these correlates
increasing incidence with aging population
not picked up on pap smear
increasing incidence of squamous differentiation
General Gross Description

fungating, friable, tan mass with irregular infiltration of underlying myometrium
General Microscopic Description

glands exhibit crowding so that they are "back-to-back"
stratified nuclei with mitotic activity
cells lose orientation to the lumen
nucleoli become prominent, nuclei are vesicular
lumenal necrosis
if >90% glandular grade 1, 10-90% glandular grade 2, <10% glandular grade 3
presence of squamous cells in >5% considered squamous differentiation
benign appearing squamous cells in neoplasms that are grade 1
overtly malignant cells in neoplasms that are grade 3
Clinical Correlation

post-menopausal bleeding is usual symptom; other symptoms rare and indicative of advanced disease
most patients are Stage I (confined to endometrium) at diagnosis and respond completely to hysterectomy
neoplasm spreads to cervix, deep in myometrium, ovary, regional lymph nodes and then distant sites
when death occurs it is usually due to local disease in the pelvis
squamous component does not affect prognosis
References

Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 1060-6
Adenocarcinoma with Squamous Differentiation
Synopsis by: Melinda Sanders M.D. (T84000M85603)[270]
Search Medline at National Library of Medicine
Please be patient during transfer. Medline will open in a new window. To return, close the Medline Window
Search Frames
Search No frames
PathWeb Home
©
Feed Back
About