[New features in the 2014 WHO classification of uterine neoplasms]

Pathologe. 2016 Nov;37(6):500-511. doi: 10.1007/s00292-016-0230-4.
[Article in German]

Abstract

The 2014 World Health Organization (WHO) classification of uterine tumors revealed simplification of the classification by fusion of several entities and the introduction of novel entities. Among the multitude of alterations, the following are named: a simplified classification for precursor lesions of endometrial carcinoma now distinguishes between hyperplasia without atypia and atypical hyperplasia, the latter also known as endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN). For endometrial carcinoma a differentiation is made between type 1 (endometrioid carcinoma with variants and mucinous carcinoma) and type 2 (serous and clear cell carcinoma). Besides a papillary architecture serous carcinomas may show solid and glandular features and TP53 immunohistochemistry with an "all or null pattern" assists in the diagnosis of serous carcinoma with ambiguous features. Neuroendocrine neoplasms are categorized in a similar way to the gastrointestinal tract into well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (small cell and large cell types). Leiomyosarcomas of the uterus are typically high grade and characterized by marked nuclear atypia and lively mitotic activity. Low grade stromal neoplasms frequently show gene fusions, such as JAZF1/SUZ12. High grade endometrial stromal sarcoma is newly defined by cyclin D1 overexpression and the presence of the fusion gene YWHAE/FAM22 and must be distinguished from undifferentiated uterine sarcoma. Carcinosarcomas (malignant mixed Mullerian tumors MMMT) show biological and molecular similarities to high-grade carcinomas.

Keywords: Endometrium; High grade carcinoma; Myometrium; Type 1 carcinoma; Type 2 carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / classification
  • Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / classification
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / pathology
  • Carcinoma / classification
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Endometrioid / classification
  • Carcinoma, Endometrioid / pathology
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / classification
  • Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / pathology
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / classification
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Endometrium / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Myometrium / pathology
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / classification
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / pathology
  • Precancerous Conditions / classification
  • Precancerous Conditions / pathology
  • Uterine Neoplasms / classification*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Uterus / pathology
  • World Health Organization*