The relation between mixed mesodermal tumors and adenocarcinomas of the ovary. An immunopathologic study

• Published in: European journal of cancer & clinical oncology Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 157,161 - 159,162
• Main Authors: Arnold Noorduyn, L., Herman, Chester J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.1987; New York, NY Pergamon Press
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic - pathology; Female; Female genital diseases; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Intermediate Filament Proteins - analysis; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal - pathology; Ovarian Neoplasms - analysis; Ovarian Neoplasms - pathology; Tumors; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - analysis; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - pathology; Uterine Neoplasms - analysis; Uterine Neoplasms - pathology; Adenocarcinoma; Human; Pathology; Immunopathology; Ovary; Malignant pleomorphic adenoma; Tumor; Female genital diseases
• ISSN: 0277-5379
• DOI: 10.1016/0277-5379(87)90009-5

Mixed mesodermal tumor of the ovary is a rare neoplasm. The diagnosis is made if an ovarian carcinoma contains heterologous sarcomatous differentiation. With the help of an immunopathologic stain for desmin, the intermediate filament protein of muscle cells, twenty cases of ovarian adenocarcinoma were examined for the presence of morphologically unrecognizable heterologous tumor cells. Six of twenty tumors were positive. There was no significant correlation between a number of clinical parameters and desmin positivity. The authors conclude that mixed mesodermal tumor of the ovary may not be a separate entity. Instead, there may be a single group of ovarian epithelial tumors ranging from borderline or well-differentiated carcinomas to poorly-differentiated tumors which may show homologous (carcinosarcoma) or heterologous (mixed mesodermal tumor) differentiation.