Small cell carcinoma of the endometrium: report of three cases and literature review

Abstract

BackgroundSmall cell carcinoma of the endometrium is extremely rare.AimWe reported three cases of this rare tumor and reviewed the literature.CasesCase 1 was a 54-year-old woman and case 3 was a 58-year-old woman. Both patients presented with vaginal bleeding. Case 2, a 53-year-old woman, had no symptoms and had a vaginal-cervical smear suspicious for malignancy. All patients underwent surgery and their tumors originated in the endometrium. In all three cases, pathological examination revealed small cell carcinoma of endometrium, and immunohistochemical reactivity for one or more neuroendocrine markers was found in all cases. Under electron microscopy in case 2 and case 3, dense core granules in the cytoplasm of tumor cells were found only in case 3. Case 3 was stage IIIA and died of her disease 12 months after surgery. Both cases 1 and 2 were stage IB and alive with no evidence of disease for 28 months and 9 years, respectively.ConclusionAlthough the prognosis of small cell carcinoma of endometrium is poor, early detection of this disease may contribute to an improved prognosis.