ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To report the cytologic characteristics of low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with sex cord-like differentiation. CASE: A 49-year-old woman presented with hypermenorrhea, menorrhalgia and anemia. With a diagnosis of degenerated leiomyoma of the uterus, simple total hysterectomy was conducted. Histologic examination revealed cells with ovoid to short, spindle-shaped nuclei resembling endometrial stromal cells proliferating in a space-occupying manner and compressing and partially infiltrating the myometrium. Some tumor cells were arranged in sex cord-like form, and hyalinization was observed in the center of the cord. Low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with sex cord-like differentiation was diagnosed. Touch imprint cytologic examination of the tumor showed cells containing scanty cytoplasm and ovoid to spindle-shaped nuclei with little atypia; they were scattered individually, aggregated in clusters, or arranged in cord or glandular form. Hyaline-like substance was present in abundance. The histologic characteristics of the endometrial stromal sarcoma with sex cord-like differentiation were confirmed by touch imprint cytology of the tumor. CONCLUSION: In this case of low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma with sex cord-like differentiation, cytologic examination revealed hyaline substance and tumor cells aligned in cord or glandular form.
