Smooth Muscle Tumors of the Visceral Adnexal and Uterine Ligaments and Adnexal Connective Tissue: A Clinicopathologic Study of 67 Cases.

The endopelvic fascia is a biomechanical network of supportive tissue that suspends and secures the female reproductive organs to the pelvic sidewall. Several visceral adnexal and uterine ligaments are part of this framework, and we have observed that smooth muscle tumors (SMTs) arising from these structures morphologically resemble gynecologic smooth muscle neoplasms. To determine whether gynecologic smooth muscle tumor criteria for malignancy are valid in these tumors, we evaluated the morphologic features of 67 tumors from 67 patients and correlated our findings with patient outcome. Using current uterine SMT WHO definitions, 57 tumors (85%) were classified as leiomyoma, 2 (3%) as smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP), and 8 (12%) as leiomyosarcoma. Clinical follow-up was available for 88% of patients (range: 1-296 mo, mean: 174 mo, median: 79 mo). Only 1 case of leiomyosarcoma had metastasis at time of presentation, but 6 of 8 (75%) patients eventually died of disease. The other 2 cases of leiomyosarcoma that have not recurred are 11 and 16 mo from initial diagnosis. No cases of STUMP or leiomyoma recurred. On the basis of morphologic features and patient outcome, we believe these tumors distribute into similar categories of leiomyoma, STUMP and leiomyosarcoma, paralleling the biologic potential of uterine SMTs as well as SMTs of other gynecologic sites. We propose use of uterine WHO SMT criteria to classify spindled SMTs that arise in the visceral adnexal and uterine ligaments and adnexal connective tissue.

Next-generation Sequencing Reveals Recurrent Somatic Mutations in Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix.

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC) of the uterine cervix is a rare but extremely aggressive tumor. While high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is involved at an early stage of oncogenesis in many tumors, additional driving events have been postulated to facilitate the progression of SCNECs. Identification of oncogenic drivers could guide targeted therapy of this neoplasm. Clinicopathologic features of 10 cervical SCNECs are reported. Analyses included immunohistochemical evaluation of p16, p53, synaptophysin, and chromogranin expression; in situ hybridizations and polymerase chain reaction for high-risk HPV and/or HPV 18; and next-generation sequencing based on a 637-gene panel. The patients ranged in age from 28 to 68 years (mean, 45.6 y; median, 40.5 y). All tumors had diffuse p16 and synaptophysin expression. All but 1 tumor was positive for chromogranin (extent of staining ranged from focal to diffuse). HPV 18 was detected in 6 tumors and HPV 35 in 1 tumor. At least 1 driver mutation was detected in 8 tumors. Four cases harbored TP53 somatic mutations, 3 of which correlated with an aberrant p53 staining pattern. Four PIK3CA mutations (p.G106A, p.N345T, p.E545K, and p.E545D) were detected in 3 tumors, 2 of which also harbored TP53 mutations. Oncogenic driver mutations involving KRAS, Erbb2, c-Myc, NOTCH1, BCL6, or NCOA3 were detected in 4 tumors. Mutations in caretaker tumor suppressors PTEN, RB1, BRCA1, BRCA2, and ARID1B were also identified in 4 tumors that commonly coharbored activating oncogenic mutations. Targeted next-generation gene sequencing identified genetic alterations involving the MAPK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and TP53/BRCA pathways in SCNECs. The presence of genetic alterations that are amenable to targeted therapy in SCNECs offers the potential for individualized management strategies for treatment of this aggressive tumor.

Ovarian Hemangiomas Do Not Harbor EWSR1 Rearrangements: Clinicopathologic Characterization of 10 Cases.

Hemangiomas of the ovary are rare with a majority described as individual reports of unusual clinical presentations or morphologic findings. Both the expected and unexpected pathologic features of these tumors in the ovary are not well detailed. Therefore, we collected the largest series of ovarian hemangiomas to comprehensively define their clinicopathologic associations and examine the significance of hormone receptors in their pathogenesis. In addition, a novel EWSR1-NFATC1 fusion has recently been described in a case of hemangioma of bone. To our knowledge, EWSR1 rearrangement has not been evaluated in hemangiomas of other sites or in a case series. Accordingly, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization to investigate EWSR1 status in a majority of our cases. Clinical presentation was variable and dependent on tumor size. Patient age ranged 48 to 87 yr (median 63 yr). Tumors involved the right (n=6) and left (n=3) ovaries with laterality unknown in 1 case, and size ranged from 0.2 to 5.0 cm (median 1.0 cm). Three of 4 radiologic reports were either equivocal or could not exclude malignancy. Seven cases were of the cavernous type and 3 were mixed cavernous and capillary type. All lesions formed a single discrete, circumscribed mass that displaced the surrounding cortical stroma. The cavernous type showed dilated, thin-walled vessels and vascular thrombi, some of which were associated with dystrophic calcification. In addition to cavernous morphology, the mixed form exhibited features of capillary hemangioma such as lobulated growth of capillary-sized vascular spaces that lacked atypia or multilayering and were linked to a larger feeding vessel. Each tumor expressed CD31, CD34, FLI-1, ERG, but not D240. The hemangioma stromal cells, but not endothelium, expressed estrogen and progesterone receptors in every case. Stromal luteinization was seen in 2 cases. Follow-up ranged 1 to 139 mo and all patients were disease free. All cases were negative for EWSR1 rearrangement; however, 2 cases demonstrated additional intact copies of EWSR1 indicating aneusomy 22 or a structural abnormality of chromosome 22 resulting in apparent duplication of the EWSR1 gene region (at 22q12). Although an uncommon entity, awareness of ovarian hemangioma's unique and diverse clinical presentation as well as its potential to radiologically imitate malignant ovarian neoplasms are important.

Vulvar Myxoid Liposarcoma and Well Differentiated Liposarcoma With Molecular Cytogenetic Confirmation: Case Reports With Review of Malignant Lipomatous Tumors of the Vulva.

Malignant lipomatous tumors of the vulva are uncommon. We present 2 cases of liposarcoma arising in the vulva: a myxoid liposarcoma harboring DDIT3 and FUS rearrangements and a well differentiated liposarcoma/atypical lipomatous tumor harboring MDM2 amplification detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Both cases are the first liposarcomas of this site to be confirmed by molecular cytogenetic analysis. We also review the literature's cases of liposarcoma to further examine the clinicopathologic features of these tumors.

Adnexal mass secondary to extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) with associated amyloid deposition.

Systemic amyloid light chain amyloidosis (AL amyloidosis) is usually seen in association with a plasma cell disorder. Amyloid deposition associated with extranodal marginal zone lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) is a rare phenomenon that is not typically associated with systemic AL amyloidosis. We describe the unusual case of a patient with an adnexal mass secondary to MALT lymphoma with associated amyloid deposition.

Perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasm (PEComa) of the gynecologic tract: clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical characterization of 16 cases.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) belongs to a family of tumors characterized by coexpression of melanocytic and muscle markers. Recent studies have shown that sporadic and tuberous sclerosis complex-associated PEComa may respond to mTOR inhibitors underscoring the importance of recognizing this tumor. However, its occurrence in the gynecologic tract continues to be disputed owing to its common misclassification as other types of uterine sarcoma and its controversial relationship with epithelioid smooth muscle tumors. To more fully characterize PEComa of the female genital tract, 16 cases of gynecologic PEComa were identified (1990 to 2012) and formed the basis of this study. Each case was analyzed for conventional morphologic and immunohistochemical characteristics established for PEComa of extrauterine sites; clinical outcome data were obtained for all cases. The 16 patients were aged 28 to 60 (mean 49; median 50) years, and 1 had a history of tuberous sclerosis complex. Thirteen cases were primary of the uterus, 2 of the adnexa, and 1 of the vagina. Tumor size ranged from 0.3 to 25.0 (mean 8.7) cm. Three patients died of disease, 6 were alive with disease, and 7 were alive without evidence of disease at last follow-up (1 mo to 13 y follow-up; mean 26 mo). All patients with an adverse outcome met established criteria for malignancy as proposed for extrauterine sites (ie, 2 or more features present: size ≥5 cm, high-grade nuclear features, infiltration, necrosis, lymphovascular invasion, or a mitotic rate ≥1/50 high-power fields). Of the melanocytic markers, HMB45 was most commonly expressed (16/16 positive, 100%), followed by microphthalmia transcription factor (11/12 positive, 92%), MelanA (14/16 positive, 88%), and S100 protein (2/10 positive, 20%). Of the smooth muscle markers, desmin was most commonly expressed (15/15 cases, 100%), followed by SMA (14/15 cases, 93%) and h-caldesmon (11/12 cases, 92%). TFE3 immunopositivity was identified in 5 of 13 cases; however, 3 tested cases were negative for a TFE3 rearrangement by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Current criteria for malignancy appear to be valid in the female genital tract, although modified criteria, as described herein, may be more specific. Awareness of the characteristic features of PEComa is important to help distinguish it from epithelioid smooth muscle tumors and other mimics as PEComa may respond to unique chemotherapeutic regimens.

Synovial sarcoma of the kidney: a clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular genetic study of 16 cases.

We report the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of 16 cases of genetically confirmed primary synovial sarcoma of the kidney. The cases occurred in 9 men and 7 women ranging in age from 17 to 78 years (mean, 46 y). The tumors were grossly large, solid, and variably cystic (2.2 to 19.0 cm; mean 8.6 cm). Microscopically, all tumors were of the monophasic type and diffusely immunoreactive for TLE1 and BCL-2. Focal pankeratin positivity was found in just under half. Ten cases carried an SS18-SSX2 fusion transcript, and 5 cases showed an SS18-SSX1 transcript by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The remaining case demonstrated SS18 rearrangement by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Clinical follow-up information was available for 12 patients (range, 1 to 77 mo; mean, 32.5 mo). Fourteen patients underwent radical nephrectomy, and 3 patients had lung metastases at presentation. Six patients died of disease within 1 to 58 months (mean, 31 mo) of their diagnosis. Five patients were alive without evidence of disease 12 to 77 months (mean, 39 mos) after surgery. A single patient was alive with metastases to the spine 11 months after surgery. We conclude that renal synovial sarcoma is an aggressive tumor, with adverse patient outcome in >50% of cases. Synovial sarcoma must be distinguished from morphologically similar lesions of the kidney.

Multinucleated epithelial giant cells in the duodenum.

Multinucleated epithelial giant cells mimicking viropathic effect or dysplasia have been documented in the gastrointestinal tract, specifically in the esophagus and colorectal polyps. This finding has been associated with either inflammation or hyperplasia in prior case series. The authors report the first occurrence in the small intestine involving a 30-year-old woman without a coexisting inflammatory or hyperplastic process. The multinucleated epithelial giant cells featured numerous homogenous nulei (mean 9 nuclei, range 5-18) limited to duodenal villi. Immunohistochemistry revealed strong positivity for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and negativity for herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, varicella simplex virus, and cytomegalovirus. In situ hybridizations for adenovirus and Epstein-Barr virus were also negative. Despite a lack of a specific etiologic agent, evidence suggests multinucleated epithelial giant cells are the consequence of inflammation, chronic injury, or cellular degeneration.