Immunohistochemistry of endometrial stromal sarcoma

• Published in: Human pathology Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 224 - 230
• Main Authors: Farhood, Anwar I., Abrams, Jacki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.03.1991; Elsevier
• Subjects: Actins - metabolism; Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Collagen - metabolism; Desmin - metabolism; endometrial stromal sarcoma; Female; Female genital diseases; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; immunohistochemistry; Immunohistochemistry - methods; Keratins - metabolism; Medical sciences; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Middle Aged; Mucin-1; Myometrium - cytology; Myometrium - metabolism; Sarcoma - diagnosis; Sarcoma - metabolism; Sarcoma - pathology; smooth muscle; Uterine Neoplasms - diagnosis; Uterine Neoplasms - metabolism; Uterine Neoplasms - pathology; Vimentin - metabolism; endometrial stromal sarcoma; smooth muscle; immunohistochemistry; Case study; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Sarcoma; Uterus; Classification; Histiogenesis; Female; Tumor; Stromal cell; Diagnosis; Endometrium
• ISSN: 0046-8177; 1532-8392
• DOI: 10.1016/0046-8177(91)90154-H

Twenty-three cases (12 low grade, 11 high grade) of endometrial stromal sarcoma were studied with monoclonal antibodies to vimentin, keratin, desmin, muscle actin, epithelial membrane antigen, and collagen type IV, using the avidin-biotin immunoper-oxidase method. Tumors were highly variable in the expression of these antigens. Some tumors contained both epithelial and smooth muscle-related antigens; others were immunoreactive only for the intermediate filament vimentin. Immunoreactivity patterns for metastases or recurrences were similar to the respective primary tumor and no correlation was observed between tumor grade and antigen expression. Normal myometrium, when present, was keratin-positive and variably epithelial membrane antigen-positive. We conclude that endometrial stromal sarcoma, as well as normal myometrium, may express both epithelial and/or muscle-related antigens. These findings most likely reflect a common mesodermal-mullerian derivation and illustrate the intimate relationship of the endometrial stromal cell to the endometrial glands and myometrium. Knowledge of these immunore-activity patterns is essential when evaluating poorly differentiated uterine tumors or spindle cell tumors presenting in extrauterine locations.