UTERINE CARCINOSARCOMAS: HISTOPATHOLOGICAL ASPECTS REPORT ON 18 CASES

Objective: Uterine carcinosarcomas are relatively rare tumors with poor prognosis. These tumors were considered as a subset of uterine sarcomas; however currently they are classified within the carcinoma group. Recent studies have revealed that these tumors behave according to the characteristics of the epithelial component. The aim of the study was to discuss the histopathological characteristics of these quite aggressive tumors, which were diagnosed in our clinic, in the light of the literature. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 18 patients with uterine sarcoma, who were operated at our oncology department between 2004 and 2014. Cases with a pathology result of either carcinosarcoma or malignant mixed Mullerian tumor were included in the study pathologically. Tumor size, presence of myometrial invasion and pelvic lymph node metastases were reviewed. Demographic data were recorded. Staging was performed according to FIGO (1988) protocol. Results: 18 patients were diagnosed with carcinosarcoma. 95% of the patients were in postmenopausal period. The mean age was 64.6 (range 47-85). 13 patients underwent comprehensive surgical staging (total hysterectomy + bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy + pelvic para-aortic lymphadenectomy + omentectomy + appendectomy). 5 patients with advanced stage disease underwent suboptimal debulking. 7 patients were stage I and 11 patients were stage II-IV. Myometriyal invasion was present in 17 patients and for 9 of these patients the invasion was observed in more than 1/2 of the myometrium. Lymphovascular invasion was observed in 11 patients. Conclusion: Uterine carcinosarcomas are extremely aggressive neoplasms. Although they used to be categorized under the group of sarcoma, recent studies have shown that uterine carcinosarcomas are high-grade endometrial carcinomas, which include sarcomatous metaplasia. First-line treatment for uterine carcinosarcomas is surgery. Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy combinations are used as complementary therapies.