R Parker1, D Lanvin, B Gilks, D Miller. 1. Department of Pathology, Vancouver Hospital and British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1M9, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to document a case of advanced stage clear cell carcinoma of the endometrium which underwent spontaneous regression (SR) and comment on the possible contribution of the patient's thrombocytosis. CASE REPORT: A 73-year-old woman with essential thrombocytosis presented with vaginal bleeding. Imaging demonstrated a complex uterine mass, a 4-cm infrarenal mass, and a 5-cm subumbilical mass. Biopsy of the subumbilical mass revealed adenocarcinoma, and endometrial curettage revealed extensively necrotic clear cell endometrial carcinoma. At hysterectomy 5 weeks later, the infrarenal and subumbilical masses were not identified. The endometrial tumor was almost completely necrotic. She received no adjuvant therapy and remains disease-free 6 years later. Interestingly, her platelet-lowering agent (hydroxyurea) was discontinued shortly before, and her platelet count was significantly elevated at the time of her presentation with endometrial carcinoma. CONCLUSION: This report documents a rare case of SR of advanced endometrial carcinoma, and we speculate that increased circulating platelets were a major contributing factor. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to document a case of advanced stage clear cell carcinoma of the endometrium which underwent spontaneous regression (SR) and comment on the possible contribution of the patient's thrombocytosis. CASE REPORT: A 73-year-old woman with essential thrombocytosis presented with vaginal bleeding. Imaging demonstrated a complex uterine mass, a 4-cm infrarenal mass, and a 5-cm subumbilical mass. Biopsy of the subumbilical mass revealed adenocarcinoma, and endometrial curettage revealed extensively necrotic clear cell endometrial carcinoma. At hysterectomy 5 weeks later, the infrarenal and subumbilical masses were not identified. The endometrial tumor was almost completely necrotic. She received no adjuvant therapy and remains disease-free 6 years later. Interestingly, her platelet-lowering agent (hydroxyurea) was discontinued shortly before, and her platelet count was significantly elevated at the time of her presentation with endometrial carcinoma. CONCLUSION: This report documents a rare case of SR of advanced endometrial carcinoma, and we speculate that increased circulating platelets were a major contributing factor. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.