Citations

Diagnosis of pelvic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) can be challenging because of their nonspecific presentation and similarity to gynecological neoplasms. In this series, we describe the clinicopathological features of 20 GIST cases: 18 patients presented with pelvic mass and/or abdominal pain concerning gynecological disease; 2 patients presented with a posterior rectovaginal mass or an anorectal mass. Total abdominal hysterectomy and/or salpingo-oophorectomy (unilateral or bilateral) were performed in 13 cases. Gross and histological examination revealed that the ovary/ovaries were involved in three cases, the uterus in two cases, the vagina in two cases and the broad ligament in one case. Immunohistochemically, all tumors (20/20, 100%) were diffusely immunoreactive for c-KIT. The tumor cells were also diffusely positive for DOG-1 (10/10, 100%) and displayed focal to diffuse positivity for CD34 (11/12, 92%). Desmin was focally and weakly expressed in 1 of the 14 tested tumors (1/14, 7%), whereas 2 of 8 tumors (2/8, 25%) showed focal SMA positivity. At the molecular level, 7 of 8 (87.5%) GISTs with molecular analysis contained c-KIT mutations with the second and third c-KIT mutations detected in some recurrent tumors. In addition to c-KIT mutation, a pathogenic RB1 mutation was detected in two cases. We extensively discussed these cases focusing on their differential diagnosis described by the submitting pathologists during consultation. Our study emphasizes the importance of precision diagnosis of GISTs. Alertness to this entity in unusual locations, in combination with clinical history, morphological features as well as immunophenotype, is crucial in leading to a definitive classification.

Bizarre (atypical/symplastic) cells have been described in various gynecologic normal tissues and benign neoplasms. This type of bizarre cytologic change is usually an incidental finding and is regarded as a benign process. We describe 17 cases of bizarre chorionic-type trophoblast in second-trimester and third-trimester placentas that created concern for an underlying/undersampled or incipient intraplacental trophoblastic neoplasm, predominantly found in intervillous trophoblastic islands (11/17), placental septae (6/17), chorionic plate (1/17), and/or the chorion layer of fetal membranes (2/17). The bizarre trophoblastic cells exhibited sheet-like or nested architecture, had a multifocal/patchy distribution, and/or were present as individual cells within hyaline stroma; they were characterized by large nuclei with smudgy chromatin and occasional intranuclear pseudoinclusions. The degree of atypia was classified as mild (0/17), moderate (3/17), or severe (14/17). Mitotic figures and necrosis were not identified. A dual immunohistochemical stain for trophoblast (hydroxyl-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase) and a proliferation marker (Ki-67), performed in 15 cases, demonstrated 0% to very low proliferative activity within the bizarre trophoblast (0% to 2% [10/15], 3% to 8% [5/15]). Immunohistochemical stains for fumarate hydratase showed intact/retained expression in the bizarre cells in 7 of 7 cases. Clinical follow-up ranged from 1 to 45 months, and all patients were alive and well without subsequent evidence of a gestational trophoblastic or other neoplasms. We conclude that bizarre chorionic-type trophoblast in second-trimester or third-trimester placentas have the potential to mimic an intraplacental trophoblastic neoplasm but are likely a benign degenerative change. This study expands the spectrum of bizarre cells that occur in the gynecologic tract.

Abstract Purpose: Choriocarcinoma is most commonly gestational (androgenetic or biparental) but can be of germ cell origin or can develop as a component of a somatic neoplasm (genetically related to the patient). The latter type are aggressive neoplasms for which the underlying genetic alterations are not well characterized. Experimental Design: To investigate the relationship between the different components of somatic neoplasms with choriocarcinomatous elements, the genetic differences between gestational and nongestational tumors, and identify potential targetable alterations, we analyzed 23 samples from 11 tumors, including five gynecologic-type somatic neoplasms with choriocarcinomatous differentiation (two to three different components each) and six pure choriocarcinomas, for somatic mutations, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, and PD-L1 expression. Results: In mixed tumors, gynecologic-type carcinoma components demonstrated lineage-characteristic and lineage-specific alterations, with choriocarcinomatous components sharing some of these as well as demonstrating novel alterations, supporting a clonal relationship with divergent differentiation of the choriocarcinoma from the somatic carcinoma. TP53 mutation only occurred in nongestational tumors. Diffuse PD-L1 expression was characteristic of choriocarcinoma in both pure and mixed tumors but not seen in the gynecologic-type carcinoma components. Conclusions: Given that the somatic carcinomatous and choriocarcinomatous components of mixed tumors have distinct genetic alterations and biomarker expression, separate analysis of these components is required to guide targeted therapy. High PD-L1 expression suggests a role for checkpoint inhibitor–based immunotherapy in tumors with a choriocarcinoma component. The underlying mechanisms by which cancer stem cells reprogram and initiate trophoblastic retrodifferentiation in some somatic tumors warrant further investigation.

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (SCNEC) of the uterine cervix is a rare but extremely aggressive tumor. While high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is involved at an early stage of oncogenesis in many tumors, additional driving events have been postulated to facilitate the progression of SCNECs. Identification of oncogenic drivers could guide targeted therapy of this neoplasm. Clinicopathologic features of 10 cervical SCNECs are reported. Analyses included immunohistochemical evaluation of p16, p53, synaptophysin, and chromogranin expression; in situ hybridizations and polymerase chain reaction for high-risk HPV and/or HPV 18; and next-generation sequencing based on a 637-gene panel. The patients ranged in age from 28 to 68 years (mean, 45.6 y; median, 40.5 y). All tumors had diffuse p16 and synaptophysin expression. All but 1 tumor was positive for chromogranin (extent of staining ranged from focal to diffuse). HPV 18 was detected in 6 tumors and HPV 35 in 1 tumor. At least 1 driver mutation was detected in 8 tumors. Four cases harbored TP53 somatic mutations, 3 of which correlated with an aberrant p53 staining pattern. Four PIK3CA mutations (p.G106A, p.N345T, p.E545K, and p.E545D) were detected in 3 tumors, 2 of which also harbored TP53 mutations. Oncogenic driver mutations involving KRAS , Erbb2 , c-Myc , NOTCH1 , BCL6 , or NCOA3 were detected in 4 tumors. Mutations in caretaker tumor suppressors PTEN , RB1 , BRCA1 , BRCA2 , and ARID1B were also identified in 4 tumors that commonly coharbored activating oncogenic mutations. Targeted next-generation gene sequencing identified genetic alterations involving the MAPK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and TP53/BRCA pathways in SCNECs. The presence of genetic alterations that are amenable to targeted therapy in SCNECs offers the potential for individualized management strategies for treatment of this aggressive tumor.

Accurate risk stratification of smooth muscle tumors (SMTs) is essential for appropriate patient management. Yet, the rarity of SMTs of the vagina and vulva makes development of a prognostically meaningful classification system challenging. While 2 classification methods for vulvar SMTs and 1 for vaginal SMTs have been proposed, it is our experience that many pathologists tend to apply criteria for uterine SMTs when evaluating vulvovaginal tumors. We retrospectively reviewed a large cohort of vulvovaginal SMTs with clinical follow-up and evaluated which method most accurately classified tumors according to patient outcome. A total of 71 tumors, 53 vaginal (75%) and 18 vulvar (25%), from 71 patients were identified. All tumors were centrally examined for degree of cytologic atypia, morphology (spindled, epithelioid, myxoid), mitotic index per 10 high power fields, atypical mitotic figures, tumor cell necrosis, ischemic necrosis, tumor interface (circumscribed or infiltrative) and margin status. Clinical features were recorded for each patient. Follow-up was available for 63 patients (89%), and ranged from 1 to 234 months (median: 64 mo). While site-specific and uterine criteria showed equally excellent sensitivity in classifying smooth muscle neoplasms as leiomyosarcoma according to patient outcome, uterine criteria showed improved specificity relatively to site-specific methods in classifying tumors as nonsarcoma according to patient outcome. We recommend that uterine SMT criteria and nomenclature be adopted for evaluation and classification of vulvovaginal SMTs.