Primary vaginal leiomyosarcoma: A case report with complete morphological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study

Abstract

Objective: Primary vaginal leiomyosarcomas (LMS) are rare, easily recurrent tumours with an unknown etiology; the prognosis is poor and there is no consensus guideline on their management.

Case report: A nodular, 25 × 23 x 28 mm-mass, infiltrating the urethra, was found in a 58-year-old woman. A biopsy showed a LMS of the vagina that was positive for vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, caldesmon, desmin, p16 and p53. An anterior pelvic exenteration was performed. The sample was fixed and prepared for light microscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, confirming the diagnosis of LMS.

Conclusions: Best outcomes occur when the tumour is small, localized, and can be removed surgically with wide, clear margins, as in this case. As there are different kinds of malignant mesenchymal tumours, biopsy followed by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy still represents a good diagnostic choice and surgical resection is generally the gold standard in these cases.

Keywords: Electron microscopy; Immunohistochemistry; Leiomyosarcoma; Light microscopy; Vagina.