Extrauterine Mesonephric-like Neoplasms: Expanding the Morphologic Spectrum

Am J Surg Pathol. 2022 Jan 1;46(1):124-133. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0000000000001766.

Abstract

Mesonephric-like adenocarcinomas (MLA) are rare neoplasms arising in the uterine corpus and ovary which have been added to the recent 2020 World Health Organization Classification of Female Genital Tumors. They have similar morphology and immunophenotype and exhibit molecular aberrations similar to cervical mesonephric adenocarcinomas. It is debated as to whether they are of mesonephric or Mullerian origin. We describe the clinical, pathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of 5 cases of extrauterine mesonephric-like proliferations (4 ovary, 1 extraovarian), all with novel and hitherto unreported features. These include an origin of MLA in extraovarian endometriosis, an association of ovarian MLA with high-grade serous carcinoma, mixed germ cell tumor and mature teratoma, and a borderline ovarian endometrioid tumor exhibiting mesonephric differentiation. Four of the cases exhibited a KRAS variant and 3 also a PIK3CA variant. In reporting these cases, we expand on the published tumor types associated with MLA and report for the first time a borderline tumor exhibiting mesonephric differentiation. We show the value of molecular testing in helping to confirm a mesonephric-like lesion and in determining the relationship between the different neoplastic components. We provide further evidence for a Mullerian origin, rather than a true mesonephric origin, in some of these cases. We also speculate that in the 2 cases associated with germ cell neoplasms, the MLA arose out of the germ cell tumor.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / chemistry
  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / therapy
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mesocolon / chemistry
  • Mesocolon / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Mullerian Ducts / chemistry
  • Mullerian Ducts / pathology*
  • Mutation
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / therapy
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Wolffian Ducts / chemistry
  • Wolffian Ducts / pathology*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • KRAS protein, human
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • PIK3CA protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)