ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN PRODUCTION BY A HEPATOID ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE UTERUS

A case of a 62 year old Japanese woman with an endometrial adenocarcin oma producing alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is described. Microscopically, t he tumour was composed of a major medullary portion and a minor tubula r adenocarcinoma which had invaded the myometrium, the myometrial lymp hatics and blood vessels. Neoplastic cells in the medullary portion we re polygonal with glycogen-rich cytoplasm, Vascular permeation by neop lastic cells was prominent. Extensive hepatoma-like features were obse rved. The tumour cells lacked features suggestive of a diagnosis of em bryonal carcinoma or endodermal sinus tumour. The production of AFP by the tumour cells was demonstrated immunohistochemically using the PAP technique. Only two cases of AFP producing endometrial adenocarcinoma s have been reported previously.