Proximal-Type Epithelioid Sarcoma: Report of an Unusual Case in the Uterine Cervix

Abstract

Epithelioid sarcoma is a rare malignant mesenchymal neoplasm (less than 1% of all sarcomas) with epithelioid morphology. Among the 2 subtypes, proximal represents only one-third of cases and commonly involves deep tissues of pelvic region, including the perineum, genital area, and groin, and occurs more frequently in older patients who present a more aggressive course. In the female genital tract, proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma (PES) mainly affects the vulva and is extremely uncommon in the uterus. To our knowledge, only a few cases of PES involving the cervix and uterine body have been previously reported in the literature. We report a 23-year-old woman who presented with abnormal vaginal bleeding. She was found to have a cervical mass, which was resected and diagnosed as a hemangioendothelioma. However, 2 months later, the mass recurred and the histopathological analysis at our institution demonstrated a PES confined to the uterine cervix. It is important to include this neoplasm in the differential diagnosis of epithelioid tumors that can involve the female genital tract because it has a significant impact on prognosis and treatment.