Abstract
Objectives : We reviewed the cytological diagnosis of uterine carcinosarcomas, and evaluated the usefulness of cytological examination.
Study Design : In 9 cases of uterine carcinosarcoma treated at Musashino Red Cross Hospital, we analyzed the diagnostic accuracy of the cytological and histological findinags. We reviewed the cytological specimens, studied the cytological features and the possibility of cytological diagnosis for uterine carcinosarcomas.
Results : Malignant tumor cells were detected in 6 cases (67%) by the cytological examination and in 8 cases (89%) by the histological examination, whertas carcinosarcoma cells were detected in 0 cases and 1 case (11%) respectively. The cytological characteristics of uterine carcinosarcomas were 1) a scattered arrangement of the malignant cells ; 2) thin nuclear rim ; 3) fine granular chromatin ; 4) irregular shaped nucleus and nucler grooves ; and 5) macronucleoli, multiple nucleoli.
We reevaluated the cytological specimens and detected uterine carcinosarcoma cells in 4 cases out of 9 cases. In 1 case, sarcoma elements in the cytological specimen coincioled with carcinoma elements in the histological specimens. We could thus detect 5 cases out of 9 cases (55%) of uterine carcinosarcoma.
Conclusion : Although uterine carcinosarcomas are difficult to be diagnosed preoperationally, these findings suggest that cytological examination could possibly improve the diagnostic accuracy.
