MICROGLANDULAR ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE ENDOMETRIUM - A FORM OF MUCINOUSADENOCARCINOMA THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH MICROGLANDULAR HYPERPLASIA OF THE CERVIX

Microglandular adenocarcinoma of the endometrium may cause diagnostic problems because of its bland cytologic appearance and its histologic similarity to benign microglandular hyperplasia of the cervix. We pres ent two cases of microglandular adenocarcinoma and discuss the clinica l, pathologic. and immunohistochemical findings. Both patients were po stmenopausal women. one of whom was taking exogenous hormones. Endomet rial biopsy specimens contained polypoid tissue fragments, within whic h were microcystic spaces lined by flattened, cuboidal, or columnar ce lls. Solid nests or sheets of tumor cells surrounded glands in some ti ssue fragments. The nuclei were uniform and bland, and mitotic figures , although readily identifiable, were infrequent (1 per 10 high-power fields). A majority of tumor cells contained intracytoplasmic mucin. N umerous neutrophils were present in gland lumens and tissues. Immunohi stochemical stains for carcinoembryonic antigen and TAG72 (B72.3) reve aled focal moderate to intense apical and cytoplasmic staining; immuno stains for p53 protein were negative. One carcinoma was confined to th e endometrium, whereas the other invaded into the inner one-third of t he myometrium. Both patients were well after a limited follow-up of 1 year, Microglandular adenocarcinoma is a distinctive variant of endome trial carcinoma that is most likely a form of mucinous adenocarcinoma.