Endometrial Metaplastic/Reactive Changes Coexistent with Endometrial Hyperplasia and Carcinoma: A Morphological and Immunohistochemical Study
Antonio Travaglino,
Frediano Inzani,
Angela Santoro,
Damiano Arciuolo,
Alessia Piermattei,
Sandra Pasquini,
Giulia Scaglione,
Nicoletta D’Alessandris,
Michele Valente,
Antonio Raffone,
Francesco Fanfani,
Gian Franco Zannoni
Affiliations
Antonio Travaglino
Gynecopathology and Breast Pathology Unit, Department of Woman and Child’s Health and Public Health Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Frediano Inzani
Gynecopathology and Breast Pathology Unit, Department of Woman and Child’s Health and Public Health Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Angela Santoro
Gynecopathology and Breast Pathology Unit, Department of Woman and Child’s Health and Public Health Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Damiano Arciuolo
Gynecopathology and Breast Pathology Unit, Department of Woman and Child’s Health and Public Health Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Alessia Piermattei
Gynecopathology and Breast Pathology Unit, Department of Woman and Child’s Health and Public Health Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Sandra Pasquini
Gynecopathology and Breast Pathology Unit, Department of Woman and Child’s Health and Public Health Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Giulia Scaglione
Gynecopathology and Breast Pathology Unit, Department of Woman and Child’s Health and Public Health Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Nicoletta D’Alessandris
Gynecopathology and Breast Pathology Unit, Department of Woman and Child’s Health and Public Health Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Michele Valente
Gynecopathology and Breast Pathology Unit, Department of Woman and Child’s Health and Public Health Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Antonio Raffone
Division of Gynecology and Human Reproduction Physiopathology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Univeristaria di Bologna. S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Francesco Fanfani
Department of Life Health and Public Health, Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, 00168 Rome, Italy
Gian Franco Zannoni
Gynecopathology and Breast Pathology Unit, Department of Woman and Child’s Health and Public Health Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between endometrial metaplastic/reactive changes (EMRCs) and endometrial neoplastic lesions. Twenty cases of “simple” (without architecture complexity) EMRCs coexistent with endometrial malignant/premalignant lesions, twenty cases of neoplasia-unassociated EMRCs, and eight cases of complex metaplastic lesions were assessed by immunohistochemistry. EMRCs coexisted with endometrioid carcinoma (n = 12), atypical endometrial hyperplasia (n = 3), serous carcinoma (n = 2), and clear cell carcinoma (n = 3). Neoplasia-associated EMRCs showed a mean Ki67 labeling index of 12.6% (range 0–30%); with nuclear atypia in 16/20 (80%) cases; diffuse p16 expression in 15/20 (75%) cases; and heterogeneous ER, PR, and vimentin expression. Compared to the associated neoplasia, EMRCs showed a lower Ki67 expression (p p p = 0.044) and PTEN loss in 5/8 cases, even in the absence of nuclear atypia. In conclusion, neoplasia-associated simple EMRCs may show evident atypia and a worrisome immunophenotype, but no data support their involvement in endometrial carcinogenesis. Architectural complexity appears as a crucial factor to identify precancerous lesions.
