HEPATOID ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE ENDOMETRIUM ASSOCIATED WITH ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN PRODUCTION

A 66-year-old woman was hospitalized with a 2-month history of vaginal bleeding. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging on admis sion showed a uterine tumor. The serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level w as 16,170 ng/ml (normal <20). A total hysterectomy with bilateral salp ingo-oophorectomy and regional lymphadenectomy were performed. A grayi sh-white tumor with focal necrotic areas was located in the posterior wall of the corpus uteri with smaller nodules in the lateral wall of t he cervix. The tumor had two histologic patterns: one was a well-diffe rentiated endometrioid adenocarcinoma and the other consisted of nests of cells resembling hepatocytes. In the hepatoid areas, giant cells a nd mitotic figures were frequent. Tumor cells in both the hepatoid are as and the glandular areas were immunoreactive for AFP. The tumor was diagnosed as a hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the uterus, the first descri bed in this site, although 23 cases of hepatoid adenocarcinoma arising in the stomach, lung, kidney, ovary, duodenum, and urinary bladder ha ve been reported.