Squamous cell carcinoma with sarcoma-like stroma of the female genital tract. Clinicopathologic study of four cases

Abstract

Four cases of squamous cell carcinoma with sarcoma-like stroma located in the vulva (1), vagina (2) and cervix (1) of postmenopausal women are presented. The gross and microscopic features are very similar to those of similarly named tumors occurring in the upper respiratory and digestive tract and in the skin. Light microscopic, electron microscopic, and immunohistochemical examination provided convincing evidence that these tumors are composed solely of squamous cell carcinoma, which has undergone a spindle cell sarcoma-like transformation in the deeper portions. Follow-up revealed an aggressive clinical course in three of the four patients, who died of their tumor between 2 and 45 months after presentation. At the time of death, two of the patients had widespread metastases and the other had massive local recurrence.