Endometrial adenosquamous carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells: immunohistochemistry and histogenesis

APMIS. 2005 Feb;113(2):140-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0463.2005.apm1130208.x.

Abstract

Primary extraskeletal epithelial neoplasms containing osteoclast-like giant cells (OGCs) are rare. We herein describe a case of adenosquamous carcinoma that developed in the endometrium together with non-neoplastic OGCs. The patient was a 72-year-old woman who underwent radical hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy and lymph node dissection after being diagnosed with uterine cancer. Histologically, the tumor was found to be an adenosquamous carcinoma containing a large number of OGCs and mononuclear cells (MNCs) that had infiltrated into the stroma. Immunohistochemically, the OGCs and MNCs stained strongly positive for KP-1 and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, and negative for the epithelial markers epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) and cytokeratins. These findings suggest that the OGCs and MNCs in this patient's tumor originated from monocytes/histiocytes, and most likely developed as part of the stromal reaction to the neoplasm.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology*
  • Cell Lineage
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Female
  • Giant Cells / metabolism
  • Giant Cells / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / pathology
  • Osteoclasts / metabolism
  • Osteoclasts / pathology*