Pathology of the uterine body

Abstract

During the past year, evidence has compiled to suggest that uterine carcinosarcomas are, in fact, metaplastic carcinomas and that mitotic counts are of no value in distinguishing between high- and low-grade endometrial stromal sarcomas in stage I cases. The pathologic and biologic behavior of uterine müllerian adenosarcomas has been comprehensively reviewed. Prognostic factors have been identified in a large series of surgically staged endometrioid adenocarcinomas of the endometrium, while the sinister nature of the serous papillary and clear cell carcinomas of the endometrium have been confirmed. It has been claimed that a papillary pattern of growth is an independent prognostic factor in endometrial neoplasia and shown that the accuracy of macroscopic estimation of depth of myometrial invasion decreases with increasing tumor grade. The value of peritoneal cytologic examination in early stage endometrial adenocarcinoma has been questioned, as has the value of DNA flow cytometry in endometrial neoplasia. The prognostic significance of steroid receptor status has been confirmed and studies of oncogene amplification are beginning to yield prognostically useful information. Evidence is also beginning to emerge concerning chromosomal abnormalities in many women with endometrial adenocarcinoma.