ADENOSARCOMA OF THE UTERUS WITH EXTENSIVE SMOOTH-MUSCLE DIFFERENTIATION - ULTRASTRUCTURAL-STUDY AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Four cases of Mullerian adenosarcoma were studied by light and electro n microscopy and immunohistochemistry. All 4 cases showed the histolog ic characteristics of adenosarcoma with benign endometrial glands and a malignant stroma. Ultrastructurally, the epithelial component in all cases had the appearance of proliferative endometrial glands, and the malignant mesenchymal cells showed features of endometrial stroma. A distinct basal lamina separating glands from stroma was present. In ad dition, 2 of the cases showed extensive smooth muscle differentiation which was associated with sarcomatous overgrowth. The smooth muscle fe atures were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Multiple theories of th e histogenesis of this tumor are discussed.