Primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the uterus - A case report

BACKGROUND: Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) of the uterus are very rare. Even preoperative curettage specimen morphology does not permit esta blishing a proper histogenetic diagnosis. CASE: A 16-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of metrorrha gia of three months' duration. The curettage specimen was interpreted as po orly differentiated sarcoma. The patient was operated on, and a total abdom inal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with omentectomy was performed. Histologically the tumor was composed of uniform, rounded, oval and sometimes spindle shaped cells with a narrow rim of eosinophilic cytop lasm. The cells were positive for neurogenic marker protein gene product, n euron-specific enolase and Ewing's sarcoma-related HBA-71. All cells were u niformly negative for Ber EP4 monoclonal antibody recognizing an epithelium -specific surface antigen. A diagnosis of PNET was rendered. The patient re ceived combined therapy, external radiation to the pelvis and chemotherapy. Four years later she was alive, without signs of recurrent tumor. CONCLUSION: In spite of the generally recognized aggressive behavior of PNE T, it can have a long disease-free survival rate when appropriately treated .