Pathological and molecular diagnosis of bilateral inguinal lymph nodes metastases from low-grade endometrial adenocarcinoma: a case report with review of the literature

BMC Cancer. 2018 Jan 2;18(1):7. doi: 10.1186/s12885-017-3944-7.

Abstract

Background: Extra-abdominal metastases in low grade endometrial carcinoma are rare events. Inguinal lymphatic spread occurs usually in advanced disease and is associated with abdominal lymph nodes involvement. To our knowledge, isolated inguinal lymph node metastases in patients with early endometrial carcinoma have never been described thus far.

Case presentation: We present an uncommon case of inguinal lymph node metastasis in a 51-year old patient with early endometrial disease without other metastatic involvement. The metastatic loci were analyzed with the recently validated method of mitochondrial DNA sequencing to demonstrate clonality of the lesions.

Conclusions: We describe the first case of inguinal metastasis from intramucous endometrial carcinoma; this case confirms the unpredictable spread of endometrial neoplasia and the importance of both patient's history and physical examination in good clinical practice.

Keywords: Endometrial carcinoma; Inguinal lymph nodes metastasis; Mitochondrial DNA sequencing.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary*
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / genetics
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inguinal Canal / pathology*
  • Inguinal Canal / surgery
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology*
  • Lymph Nodes / surgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Grading

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial