Practical Review of Ovarian Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors

Ovarian cancer and its management through advanced drug delivery system

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecological cancer, often being diagnosed at a late-stage when the disease is already advanced. This makes it known as the ''silent killer'' due to its high mortality rate among women. The ovary itself is composed of three main types of cells epithelial cells, germ cells, and stromal cells. Over 90% of all occurrences of ovarian cancer are epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Ovarian cancer is responsible for 2.5% of cancer in women. The primary signs include stomach bloating, trouble eating or feeling full rapidly, fatigue, and discomfort during intercourse. The management of ovarian cancer is improved by advanced drug delivery systems because they increase therapeutic targeting, reduce side effects, and overcome drug resistance. Accurate distribution to cancer cells is made possible by methods such as ligand-functionalized nanomedicines, dual-targeted nano-drugs, drug conjugates, antibody-drug conjugates and peptide/folate drug conjugates. These technologies enhance individualized and successful ovarian cancer treatment outcomes by maximizing chemotherapy efficacy, extending drug release, and lowering toxicity.

Characteristics and prognostic implications of a cohort of 50 Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors at a single center

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to investigate the clinical characteristics, therapy strategies and prognosis of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (SLCTs).

METHODS

A total of 50 cases of ovarian SLCTs were retrospectively analyzed. We performed descriptive statistics to describe baseline characteristics.

RESULTS

A total of 70% of SLCT patients were below the age of 45 years. The dominant pathologic types were poor (40%) and moderate (40%) differentiation. Retiform variant tumor is more aggressive and tends to appear in children. According to the 2014 FIGO (the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) classification, tumors were classified as Stage I (n = 46: well differentiated, n = 4; moderately differentiated, n = 19; poorly differentiated, n = 18; and retiform, n = 5), Stage II (n = 1, moderately differentiated), Stage III (n = 1, poorly differentiated), and Stage IV (n = 2: poorly differentiated, n = 1; and retiform, n = 1). Median follow-up was 58.1 months (2-132 months). A total of 45 patients (90%) achieved clinical remission. Four patients experienced a relapse (34.5 months, range: 7-58) and one patient died of the tumor at 10 months after initial treatment. All patients in grossly Stage IA achieved complete response, irrespective of the presence or absence of staging surgery or chemotherapy. After treatment, five patients successfully gave birth to healthy babies.

CONCLUSION

The prognosis for women diagnosed with early stage (I-II) SLCT is generally favorable, especially Stage IA. while those with advanced stages, poorly differentiated, retiform variant, or tumors containing heterologous components exhibit a more aggressive clinical course. Fertility sparing surgery appears to represent a feasible treatment approach for early stage SLCTs.

Ovarian sex cord-stromal cell tumors and the risk of sex hormone-sensitive cancers

BACKGROUND

Sex cord-stromal cell tumors are rare ovarian tumors. Some sex cord-stromal cell tumors secrete hormones that originate from the ovarian sex or stromal cells. Previous studies have indicated an increased risk for breast and endometrial cancers. However, these studies focused only on the sex cord-stromal cell tumor-subtype of adult granulosa cell tumors, and the estimates stemmed from selected cohorts and lacked a well-described cohort, making it difficult to adjust for possible confounders.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the incidence of other primary hormone-sensitive cancers and compared their risk with that in a matched cohort of women without sex cord-stromal cell tumors.

STUDY DESIGN

This nested cohort study evaluated women diagnosed with sex cord-stromal cell tumors. We established a cohort of women diagnosed with sex cord-stromal cell tumors using Systematized Medical Nomenclature for Medicine codes from the Danish Pathology Register. Sex cord-stromal cell tumors diagnoses were considered valid if the primary diagnosis was established at a tertiary referral center or confirmed by at least 2 pathologists. A 1:10 matched control group matched by birth year was selected from national registries. Variables for the follow-up of cases and controls were drawn from national registries and included assessment of the rates of breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancer, hormone use, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and sociodemographics. Hazard ratios for cancer rates were calculated using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models with sex cord-stromal cell tumor exposure estimated in early and delayed models to capture cancer rates over time. The standardized incidence ratios for very rare sex cord-stromal cell tumors were determined using a log-linear Poisson model.

RESULTS

Among the 1516 tumors with Systematized Medical Nomenclature for Medicine codes for sex cord-stromal cell tumors, 1387 met the inclusion criteria after pathologic chart review. The majority had benign tumors, primarily thecoma or fibrothecomas (66%), and 26% had adult granulosa cell tumors. Increased rates of breast cancer were found among patients with thecomas (hazard ratio, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-1.4). In the analysis of all sex cord-stromal cell tumors combined, an increased rate of synchronous endometrial cancer was found (hazard ratio, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.7-4.1). In the subgroup analysis, malignant and benign sex cord-stromal cell tumors showed significantly higher hazard ratios for synchronous endometrial cancer, notably adult granulosa cell tumors (hazard ratio, 10.7; 95% confidence interval, 5.7-20.1). In the model that assessed the rates of endometrial cancer 2 months after surgical removal of the sex cord-stromal cell tumor, no increased rates were found. Sertoli cell tumors were associated with an increased incidence of breast cancer (standardized incidence ratio, 18.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.7-134). Both Sertoli and Leydig cell tumors were associated with a higher incidence of synchronous endometrial cancer with standardized incidence ratios of 41.4 (95% confidence interval, 10.4-166) and 44.9 (95% confidence interval, 18.7-108), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Women with sex cord-stromal cell tumors have an increased rate of synchronous endometrial cancer, and women with benign sex cord-stromal cell tumors have an increased rate of synchronous ovarian cancer. A marginally increased rate of breast cancer has been observed in women with thecomas. There was no increase in the rate of breast cancer among women with adult granulosa cell tumors. It is recommended that women diagnosed with hormone-secreting sex cord-stromal cell tumors and additional risk factors for endometrial cancer (abnormal uterine bleeding and/or abnormal endometrial thickness) should undergo an endometrial biopsy to assess for the presence of cancer.

Current status of treatment for malignant ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors

Malignant ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors belong to a specific type of ovarian epithelial carcinoma, and their prognosis is related to the kind of pathology. Unlike epithelial ovarian cancer, most malignant ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors are low-grade malignant and have a good prognosis. Still, they have a tendency to recur in the long term, and the mortality rate of patients after recurrence is high. Surgery is the preferred treatment for malignant ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors with chemotherapy, and other comprehensive treatments. Recurrent and metastatic malignant ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors usually require systemic adjuvant chemotherapy, and hormonal or targeted therapy may be attempted on an individualized basis in cases where chemotherapy fails.

A molecular and immunohistochemical study of 37 cases of ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor

This study provides an analysis of 37 ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (SLCT), focusing on their morphological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features. The cohort was comprised of 9 well-differentiated, 25 moderately differentiated, and 3 poorly differentiated tumors. The immunohistochemical analysis was performed with 28 markers, including diagnostic markers and markers with possible predictive significance. The results showed high expression of sex cord markers (FOXL2, SF1, inhibin A, CD99, calretinin, ER, PR, AR), and variable expression of other markers such as CKAE1/3 (83%), CAIX (14%), and MUC4 (1%). Loss of PTEN expression was present in 14% of cases, and CTLA4 expression was seen in 43% of cases. All tumors were MMR proficient and HER2 and PD-L1 negative. The molecular analysis showed DICER1 mutations in 54.5% of cases, and a FOXL2 mutation in 6% of tumors. In addition, we detected 2 cases with TERT promoter mutation. RNA NGS sequencing identified significant differences in mRNA expression between DICER1MUT and DICER1WT tumors. The DICER1WT tumors showed increased expression of PRKCA, HNF1A, LDLR, and MAP2K5. On the contrary, the DICER1MUT cases showed increased expression of CDK6, NOTCH2, and FGFR2. The results of our study show that SLCTs exhibit distinct molecular features based on their degree of differentiation. We have confirmed that DICER1 mutations are characteristic of moderately and poorly differentiated SLCTs, while well-differentiated SLCTs may represent a distinct entity. DICER1MUT and DICER1WT tumors showed different mRNA expression profiles. The FOXL2 mutation is less common in these tumors and is mutually exclusive with the DICER1 mutation.

An Ovarian Sertoli-Leydig Cell Tumor with Elevated Alpha-Fetoprotein in an Adolescent: A Rare Case Report and Literature Review

An ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor is a rare type of sex cord-stromal tumor of the ovary. Typically, it presents as abdominal pain or androgenic manifestations in women in the second to third decade of life. While cases of ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor associated with increased levels of alpha-fetoprotein are rare, they are reported to be the most common alpha-fetoprotein-producing ovarian non-germ cell tumor. We report the case of a 16-year-old patient, who presented with complaints of amenorrhea that had lasted for one year. Transabdominal ultrasound revealed the presence of a tumor in the right ovary, measuring 9.3 × 5.8 cm in size. The laboratory investigation showed an increased level of alpha-fetoprotein. The patient underwent laparoscopic right salpingo-oophorectomy. Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of a moderately differentiated (G2) Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor in the right ovary. For reproductive-age patients with disease confined to the ovary, fertility-sparing surgery is recommended. According to the current recommendations, the administration of adjuvant chemotherapy is indicated in cases of the presence of heterologous elements, poorly differentiated tumors, or FIGO stages IB-IV. As there were no high-risk factors and no residual disease in this case, there were no indications for further treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy. A recent follow-up visit showed that the patient is in complete remission. This report presents a detailed description of the findings, differential diagnosis, clinical course, chosen treatment, and prognosis. Also, a comprehensive literature review of ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors, focusing on their clinical presentation, laboratory findings, macroscopic and histopathological features, genetics, clinical management, prognostic factors and follow-up, is provided.

Extraovarian Fibroma with Minor Sex Cord Elements-a Rare Tumour at Rare Site

Sex cord stromal tumour (SCST) of ovary account for 5-8% of all ovarian malignancies. These include fibroma, thecoma, fibro-thecoma, Leydig cell tumour, granulosa cell tumour, and Sertoli cell tumour. Although considered primary ovarian malignancy, SCST has been described in extraovarian location also. Extraovarian SCST is a rare occurrence, and so far, only 25 cases have been reported in literature and only one amongst them was extraovarian fibroma with minor sex cord element. Considering the rarity, diagnosis and proper treatment remain the real challenge in these tumours. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second case of extraovarian fibroma with minor sex cord element to be reported. Herein, we report a case of 41-year-old lady who presented with large abdomino-pelvic mass which was considered ovarian tumour; however, intraoperatively both ovaries and uterus were found to be normal, and the mass was actually arising from sigmoid mesocolon.

The role of stathmin expression in the differential diagnosis, prognosis, and potential treatment of ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors

BACKGROUND

Stathmin, a cytosolic microtubule-destabilizing phosphoprotein involved in the regulation of mitosis, is widely expressed in various malignancies and acts as an adverse prognostic factor. Our research analyzed its immunohistochemical expression on a large cohort of ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors, evaluating its potential utility in differential diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic application.

METHODS

We examined 390 cases of ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors including 281 adult granulosa cell tumors (AGCT), 5 juvenile granulosa cell tumors (JGCT), 33 Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (SLCT), 50 fibromas/thecomas (F/T), 11 Leydig cell tumors/steroid cell tumors (LCT/SterCT), 5 sex-cord stromal tumors NOS (SCST-NOS), 3 Sertoli cell tumors (SCT), and 2 sclerosing stromal tumors (ScST). Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using TMAs.

RESULTS

Strong expression (> 50%) was observed in all cases of AGCT, JGCT, SLCT, SCST-NOS, SCT and 1 ScST. The other case of ScST exhibited mild expression (5-10%). The negative cases included exclusively F/T and LCT/SterCT, with F/T showing 24% of negative cases and LCT/SterCT comprising 64% of negative cases.

CONCLUSION

The results of our study indicate that stathmin is neither a prognostic marker nor suitable for the differential diagnosis of challenging cases of ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors. However, its predictive value may be theoretically significant, as a decrease in stathmin expression potentialy influences response to chemotherapy treatment.

Ovarian steroid cell tumors, not otherwise specified: three case reports and literature review

Objective

To provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of ovarian steroid cell tumors, not otherwise specified (SCTs-NOS).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data of three patients with SCTs-NOS admitted to the Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from 2012 to 2022 and reviewed literature reports related to this disease.

Results

A total of 3 cases in our center and 70 cases searched in literature reports were included. The age at diagnosis ranged from 3 to 93 years (median, 34 years). The common clinical manifestations were hirsutism, acne, deepened voice, clitoromegaly, amenorrhea, and excessive weight gain. Tumor sizes ranged from 1.2 to 45 cm, with an average diameter of 6.5cm. Most of SCTs-NOS were benign, but some of them exhibited malignant behavior. Surgery was the main treatment and close follow-up was required. The follow up time of 73 cases ranged from 3 to 132 months (median, 21.3 months). Disease recurrence or progression occurred in 14 cases (19.2%). Three of the 73 patients had a successful pregnancy.

Conclusion

SCTs-NOS usually occur in women of reproductive age, which are mainly manifested as androgen excess symptoms. Surgery is an appropriate treatment for SCTs-NOS and should be individualized. Final diagnosis depends on pathology. SCTs-NOS have malignant potential, and the treatments for patients with malignant tumors and disease recurrence or progression were cytoreductive surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy, and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) therapy.

DNA alterations in ovarian adult granulosa cell tumours: A scoping review protocol

BACKGROUND

Identifying and describing molecular alterations in tumors has become common with the development of high-throughput sequencing. However, DNA sequencing in rare tumors, such as ovarian adult granulosa cell tumor (aGCT), often lacks statistical power due to the limited number of cases in each study. Questions regarding personalized treatment or prognostic biomarkers for recurrence or other malignancies therefore still need to be elucidated. This scoping review protocol aims to systematically map the current evidence and identify knowledge gaps regarding DNA alterations, actionable variations and prognostic biomarkers in aGCT.

METHODS

This scoping review will be conducted based on Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework and later modifications by JBI Evidence Synthesis. The protocol complies with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews. All original publications describing molecular alterations of aGCT will be included. The search will be performed in May 2024 in the following databases: MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Web of Science Core Collection and Google Scholar (100-top ranked).

DISCUSSION

This scoping review will identify knowledge and gaps in the current understanding of the molecular landscape of aGCT, clinical trials on actionable variations and priorities for future research. As aGCT are rare, a possible limitation will be the small sample sizes and heterogenic study settings.

SCOPING REVIEW REGISTRATION

The review protocol is registered at Open Science Framework under https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/PX4MF.

Update on Ovarian Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors

This article focuses on the recent advances in ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors, predominantly in the setting of their molecular underpinnings. The integration of genetic information with morphologic and immunohistochemical findings in this rare subset of tumors is of clinical significance from refining the diagnostic and prognostic stratifications to genetic counseling.

Magnetic resonance imaging radiomics to differentiate ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors and primary epithelial ovarian cancers

Objective

To evaluate the diagnostic ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based radiomics and traditional characteristics to differentiate between Ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors (SCSTs) and epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs).

Methods

We consecutively included a total of 148 patients with 173 tumors (81 SCSTs in 73 patients and 92 EOCs in 75 patients), who were randomly divided into development and testing cohorts at a ratio of 8:2. Radiomics features were extracted from each tumor, 5-fold cross-validation was conducted for the selection of stable features based on development cohort, and we built radiomics model based on these selected features. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the independent predictors in clinical features and conventional MR parameters for differentiating SCSTs and EOCs. And nomogram was used to visualized the ultimately predictive models. All models were constructed based on the logistic regression (LR) classifier. The performance of each model was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Calibration and decision curves analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the performance of models.

Results

The final radiomics model was constructed by nine radiomics features, which exhibited superior predictive ability with AUCs of 0.915 (95%CI: 0.869-0.962) and 0.867 (95%CI: 0.732-1.000) in the development and testing cohorts, respectively. The mixed model which combining the radiomics signatures and traditional parameters achieved the best performance, with AUCs of 0.934 (95%CI: 0.892-0.976) and 0.875 (95%CI: 0.743-1.000) in the development and testing cohorts, respectively.

Conclusion

We believe that the radiomics approach could be a more objective and accurate way to distinguish between SCSTs and EOCs, and the mixed model developed in our study could provide a comprehensive, effective method for clinicians to develop an appropriate management strategy.

Ovarian Sertoli Cell Tumor with Immature Prepubertal-like Sertoli Cell Component: A Case Report and Literature Review

The Sertoli cell tumor of the ovary is a rare ovarian tumor with non-specific symptoms. According to the literature, endocrine manifestations occur in two-thirds of patients, but testosterone production is extremely rare. Typically, it is a unilateral benign tumor of the ovary that most commonly presents in adolescents and young women of childbearing potential. We report a 29-year-old patient, previously diagnosed to have polycystic ovarian syndrome, who presented with complaints of amenorrhea for the past three years. A transvaginal ultrasound scan revealed polycystic structure ovaries and a solid cystic formation of 32 × 31 mm size with strong blood flow in the left ovary. The laboratory tests reported an elevated testosterone level. During laparoscopic surgery, a solid, yellowish tumor was removed and the left ovary was resected. Histological examination revealed a left ovary Sertoli cell tumor with an immature prepubertal-like Sertoli cell component. Following surgery, the serum testosterone levels returned to normal and the menstrual cycle became regular. Due to the substantially low incidence of ovarian Sertoli cell tumors, information on their clinical behavior, morphologic spectrum, optimal management, and prognosis is limited. They are characterized by a wide variety of clinical manifestations, treated surgically, and, if diagnosed at an early stage, have good prognosis. We emphasize the extraordinarily rare clinical presentation of this case report.

Postmenopausal hyperandrogenism due to an ovarian sex cord-stromal tumour causing elevated dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate: a case report

BACKGROUND

The source of excess androgen can be obscure in postmenopausal women with new-onset hyperandrogenism. If serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) is raised, it is presumed to be of adrenal origin because DHEAS is exclusively produced from adrenal cortical cells. This reports an elderly female presenting with new-onset hyperandrogenism due to an ovarian sex cord-stromal tumour, associated with increased serum DHEAS levels.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 76-year-old female with long-standing diabetes and hypertension presented with hirsutism and male type alopecia for six months. She had menopause at 55 years of age. There was a pelvic mass on examination. Total testosterone was 6.106 ng/ml (0.124-0.357) and DHEAS was > 1000 µg/dL (35-430). Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis showed a heterogeneously enhancing complex mass measuring 11 × 8 cm in the left adnexal region. Adrenal glands were normal. She underwent total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy, and omentectomy. Both testosterone and DHEAS normalised following surgery. Histology revealed a sex cord-stromal tumour, likely a steroid cell tumour with malignant potential. Fluorodeoxyglucose-Positron emission tomography did not show any additional lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the lack of sulfotransferase in ovarian tissue, markedly elevated DHEAS originating from an ovarian neoplasm is unusual. This phenomenon has not been described except in a patient with a steroid cell tumour causing Cushing syndrome and hyperandrogenism. The mechanism of this rare occurrence remains elusive. Knowledge of this unusual presentation would enable the clinicians to be cautious in localising the androgen source in women with hyperandrogenism.

Hyperandrogenism due to ovarian Leydig cell tumour presenting with polycythaemia

A postmenopausal woman in her 60s was referred due to an elevated haemoglobin value found during her annual check-up. On physical examination, characteristic features of hyperandrogenism were observed which were not earlier mentioned. Laboratory investigations revealed polycythaemia accompanied by a normal erythropoietin and a negative analysis for JAK2-V617F mutation. A disproportionally and markedly elevated testosterone in combination with normal levels of adrenal androgens raised the suspicion of an ovarian source. CT scan showed nodular hyperdense lesions in both ovaries. A bilateral oophorectomy was performed and histological evaluation unfolded a Leydig cell ovarian tumour. Testosterone levels and haematological parameters normalised after surgery. Polycythaemia secondary to hyperandrogenism in postmenopausal women is an extremely rare condition and patients should be carefully analysed for the presence of androgen-secreting neoplasms. Diagnosis of the underlying pathology requires careful history, physical examination and comprehensive investigation. Treatment for this condition is surgery and resolves polycythaemia.

Fibrothecoma in a Virgo Intacta Adolescent with Elevated Levels of CA 125 and B-hCG: A Case Report

Ovarian fibromas are benign tumors that consist of spindle cells in bundles or storiformly arranged with collagen fibers in the stroma. Thecomas resemble theca interna ovarian cells, and there is lipid material in their cytoplasm. There is an overlap in histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of these two benign tumors, and the term "fibrothecoma" was coined to describe such cases. Their incidence is extremely rare in adolescents. The subject of our study is a 15-year-old, unmarried, virgo intacta patient who was referred to us due to profuse vaginal bleeding and the loss of consciousness. A right ovary ultrasound examination exposed the formation of a hyperechoic tumor with a diameter of 41.2 mm × 29.5 mm. Findings of cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) in the amounts of 621.1 U/mL and 142.87 mIU/mL of the B-human chorionic gonadotropin (B-hCG) serum were determined. After preoperative preparation, we operated on the patient to remove a tumor with a diameter of 37 mm × 30 mm × 22 mm, smooth outer surface, solid cross-section, and yellowish white color. The diagnosis of fibrothecoma was made based on pathohistological examination. An unusual finding of fibrothecoma in a virgo intacta adolescent with profuse vaginal bleeding and increased levels of CA 125 and B-hCG may serve as a basis for broader thinking about the pathology of juvenile bleeding.

Update on Ovarian Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors

This article focuses on the recent advances in ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors, predominantly in the setting of their molecular underpinnings. The integration of genetic information with morphologic and immunohistochemical findings in this rare subset of tumors is of clinical significance from refining the diagnostic and prognostic stratifications to genetic counseling.

DICER1 tumor predisposition syndrome: an evolving story initiated with the pleuropulmonary blastoma

DICER1 syndrome (OMIM 606241, 601200) is a rare autosomal dominant familial tumor predisposition disorder with a heterozygous DICER1 germline mutation. The most common tumor seen clinically is the pleuropulmonary blastoma (PPB), a lung neoplasm of early childhood which is classified on its morphologic features into four types (IR, I, II and III) with tumor progression over time within the first 4-5 years of life from the prognostically favorable cystic type I to the unfavorable solid type III. Following the initial report of PPB, its association with other cystic neoplasms was demonstrated in family studies. The detection of the germline mutation in DICER1 provided the opportunity to identify and continue to recognize a number seemingly unrelated extrapulmonary neoplasms: Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor, gynandroblastoma, embryonal rhabdomyosarcomas of the cervix and other sites, multinodular goiter, differentiated and poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma, cervical-thyroid teratoma, cystic nephroma-anaplastic sarcoma of kidney, nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma, intestinal juvenile-like hamartomatous polyp, ciliary body medulloepithelioma, pituitary blastoma, pineoblastoma, primary central nervous system sarcoma, embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes-like cerebellar tumor, PPB-like peritoneal sarcoma, DICER1-associated presacral malignant teratoid neoplasm and other non-neoplastic associations. Each of these neoplasms is characterized by a second somatic mutation in DICER1. In this review, we have summarized the salient clinicopathologic aspects of these tumors whose histopathologic features have several overlapping morphologic attributes particularly the primitive mesenchyme often with rhabdomyoblastic and chondroid differentiation and an uncommitted spindle cell pattern. Several of these tumors have an initial cystic stage from which there is progression to a high grade, complex patterned neoplasm. These pathologic findings in the appropriate clinical setting should serve to alert the pathologist to the possibility of a DICER1-associated neoplasm and initiate appropriate testing on the neoplasm and to alert the clinician about the concern for a DICER1 mutation.

Immunocytochemistry for diagnostic cytopathology-A practical guide

Cytological specimens, which are obtained by minimally invasive methods, are an excellent source of diagnostic material. Sometimes they are the only material available for diagnosis as well as for prognostic/predictive markers. When cytomorphology is not straightforward, ancillary tests may be required for a definitive diagnosis to guide clinical management. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) is the most common and practical ancillary tool used to reach a diagnosis when cytomorphology is equivocal, to differentiate entities with overlapping morphological features, and to determine the cell lineage and the site of origin of a metastatic neoplasm. Numerous immunomarkers are available, and some are expressed in multiple neoplasms. To rule out entities within a differential diagnosis, the use of more than one marker, sometimes panels, is necessary. ICC panels for diagnostic purposes should be customised based on the clinical context and cytomorphology, and the markers should be used judiciously to preserve material for additional tests for targeted therapies in the appropriate setting. This review offers a practical guide for the use of ICC for diagnostic cytopathology, covering the most commonly encountered non-hematolymphoid diagnostic scenarios in various body sites.

Failure of multiple surgical procedures and adjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage steroid-cell ovarian tumor treatment: a case report and literature review

Ovarian steroid-cell tumors (SCTs) are a rare subgroup of sex-cord tumors of the ovary, accounting for less than 0.1% of all ovarian tumors. Not otherwise specified (NOS) tumors are the most common subtype. More than half of patients with SCTs-NOS show hyperandrogenic symptoms. The primary treatment for SCTs is surgery, as most cases are early-staged and benign. Because of the low incidence of metastatic disease, there is insufficient reliable information on the role of adjuvant therapy and the most effective treatment regimen. In this report, a rare case of a recurrent SCT-NOS in a 36-year-old female patient without endocrine symptoms is presented, highlighting the significance of appropriate pathological evaluation and immunohistochemical testing for the accurate diagnosis of this malignancy, particularly in the case of hormonally “silent” tumors. The metastatic tumor described here showed no response to four courses of adjuvant chemotherapy after several debulking surgeries. Based on the clinical findings, the neoplastic etiology should always be considered during the resection of ovarian tumors to prevent possible disease dissemination due to inappropriate surgical techniques.

Extraovarian juvenile granulosa cell tumor in a prepubertal child: novel location of a rare tumor

Juvenile granulosa cell tumor (JGCT) is the most common type of sex cord stromal tumor arising from gonadal structures of children and young adults. We present a 3.5-year-old girl with JGCT located in retroperitoneum without ovarian involvement. Extragonadal occurrences of other sex cord stromal tumors have been rarely reported, but this is the first case of JGCT in an extragonadal location. We speculate the possible underlying mechanism of sex cord stromal tumor formation in extragonadal locations. Furthermore, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis and management of this tumor in childhood are discussed.

The role of FOXL2, SOX9, and β-catenin expression and DICER1 mutation in differentiating sex cord tumor with annular tubules from other sex cord tumors of the ovary

Sex cord tumor with annular tubules (SCTAT) is a highly rare type of ovarian sex cord-stromal tumor (SCST), the diagnosis of which remains to be challenging. The aim of this study was to scrutinize the utility of three immunohistochemical markers including Forkhead box protein 2 (FOXL2), SOX9, and β-catenin and DICER1 mutation status in distinguishing SCTATs from other ovarian SCSTs. Nine cases of SCTAT, 10 Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor (SCLT), 10 adult-type granulosa cell tumor (AGCT), and 8 juvenile-type granulosa cell tumor (JGCT) were included in the study. SCTATs were characterized by diffuse and strong expression of SOX9, focal and weak expression of FOXL2, and the absence of DICER1 mutation. However, AGCTs and JGCTs displayed strong and diffuse expression of FOXL2, focal/no immunoreaction for SOX9. SLCTs generally showed moderate intensity of FOXL2 and SOX9 expression. Nuclear β-catenin expression was observed in none of SLCT, 1/9 of SCTAT, 6/8 JGCT, and 4/10 AGCT cases, respectively. DICER1 hotspot mutation was detected in only 3 cases of SLCT and 2 cases of JGCT. We conclude that in addition to strong and diffuse SOX9 expression, weak/absent expression of FOXL2 is suggestive for the diagnosis of SCTAT. Hence, we suggest that inclusion of these two markers, SOX-9 and FOXL2, to the immunohistochemical panel helps in differentiation of SCTAT from other SCSTs in addition to morphologic findings. We also conclude that SCTATs of the ovary do not harbor DICER1 hotspot mutation.

Comparison of image features and diagnostic value of color Doppler ultrasound and two-dimensional ultrasound in the diagnosis of ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors

Clinical value of color Doppler ultrasound and two-dimensional ultrasound in the diagnosis of ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors (OSCSTs) were explored. A total of 91 patients with positive OSCSTs admitted to Sichuan Provincial Hospital for Women and Children from May 2014 to June 2018 were selected as research objects. There were 48 patients diagnosed by color Doppler ultrasound technology as the color Doppler group and 43 patients diagnosed by two-dimensional ultrasound technology as the two-dimensional ultrasound group. Results of ultrasound images in the two groups were compared, and the diagnostic value of two ultrasound techniques combined with detection of CA125 and CA199 for OSCSTs was compared. The real internal echo of color Doppler ultrasound was significantly higher than that of two-dimensional ultrasound (P<0.05). The blood flow signal of color Doppler ultrasound was significantly higher than that of two-dimensional ultrasound (P<0.05). The diagnostic sensitivity and diagnostic coincidence rate of color Doppler ultrasound for lymph node metastasis of OSCSTs were significantly higher than those of two-dimensional ultrasound (P<0.05). Color Doppler ultrasound combined with CA125 and CA199 detection has higher accuracy than two-dimensional ultrasound combination. In conclusion, both color Doppler ultrasound and two-dimensional ultrasound are used to observe OSCSTs for early diagnosis, but the sensitivity and diagnostic coincidence rate of color Doppler ultrasound for clinical diagnosis of OSCSTs are higher than those of two-dimensional ultrasound, so color Doppler ultrasound has higher diagnostic value in OSCSTs.