Unexpected location of endometrial adenocarcinoma – a case report

Endometrial adenocarcinoma (ADK) is one of the most common uterine cancer and the fourth neoplasia mortality cause in women according to the literature data. ADK is encountered in the sixth decade of life, the mean age being 63 years. Only 2–5% of cases are found in women less than 40 years old. We present the case of a 63-year-old woman admitted in our Clinic for hypogastric pain and reduced vaginal sanguinolent discharge. The genital examination and transvaginal ultrasound (US) scan were strongly suggestive for a type 0 myoma tending to be expelled through the cervical canal. Laparotomy and total hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy were performed. Histological examination identified a grade G1 well-differentiated endometrioid ADK without uterine wall invasion. The immunohistochemistry study for estrogen receptors expression revealed moderate and strong nuclear immunostaining in more than 70% of the tumoral cells, as well as a mosaic p16 immunoexpression, a cytokeratin 7 (CK7) immunophenotype, no p53 overexpression and low Ki67 index (estimated at 10–15%). Considering the incidental finding, the early stage and limited localization of the ADK at the myoma surface level surgery was considered sufficient as treatment but follow-up was conducted by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and general examination every six months. The most interesting aspect of the case was the atypical presence of an active myoma in menopause and the totally unsuspicious US appearance of the endometrium. The endometrial ADK was accidentally discovered in an unusual specimen without any other symptom.