| IJCEP Copyright © 2007-All rights reserved. |
Int J Clin Exp Pathol 2011;4(2):206-209
Case Report
Carcinosarcoma of female urethra with melanocytic differentiation
Jun Liu, Hong Wu
Department of Pathology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/School of Osteopathic Medicine, West Cherry Hill, New Jersey,
USA; Department of Pathology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA.
Received December 1, 2010; accepted January 24, 2011; Epub January 30, 2011; published February 15, 2011
Abstract: Carcinosarcoma arising from the female urethra is rare. We report an unusual case of urethral carcinosarcoma from a female
patient with melanocytic differentiation. The tumor consists of a high-grade papillary serous carcinoma with psammoma bodies and a
mesenchymal component with area of heterologous (cartilaginous) element. More interestingly, there are epithelioid tumor cells containing
melanin pigment. On immunohistochemical stains, the epithelioid tumor cells are positive for S100, HMB45 and Mart-1, but negative for
cytokeratin. This case represents an unusual carcinosarcoma with areas of melanocytic differentiation. Such rare tumors have been
occasionally reported in the breast, uterus, kidney, and lung. These cases demonstrate the capacity of tumor cells to differentiate into divergent
elements, supporting the concept of pluripotent tumor stem cells (IJCEP1012001).
Keywords: Urethra, carcinosarcoma, melanocytic differentiation, pluripotent tumor stem cells
Full text PDF
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Jun Liu, Department of Pathology
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/ School of Osteopathic Medicine (UMDNJ/SOM)
Kennedy Health System, 2201Chapel Ave, West Cherry Hill, NJ 08002, USA.
Tel: 856-488-6422, Fax: 856-488-6624
E-mail: liuju@umdnj.edu
Case Report
Carcinosarcoma of female urethra with melanocytic differentiation
Jun Liu, Hong Wu
Department of Pathology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/School of Osteopathic Medicine, West Cherry Hill, New Jersey,
USA; Department of Pathology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA.
Received December 1, 2010; accepted January 24, 2011; Epub January 30, 2011; published February 15, 2011
Abstract: Carcinosarcoma arising from the female urethra is rare. We report an unusual case of urethral carcinosarcoma from a female
patient with melanocytic differentiation. The tumor consists of a high-grade papillary serous carcinoma with psammoma bodies and a
mesenchymal component with area of heterologous (cartilaginous) element. More interestingly, there are epithelioid tumor cells containing
melanin pigment. On immunohistochemical stains, the epithelioid tumor cells are positive for S100, HMB45 and Mart-1, but negative for
cytokeratin. This case represents an unusual carcinosarcoma with areas of melanocytic differentiation. Such rare tumors have been
occasionally reported in the breast, uterus, kidney, and lung. These cases demonstrate the capacity of tumor cells to differentiate into divergent
elements, supporting the concept of pluripotent tumor stem cells (IJCEP1012001).
Keywords: Urethra, carcinosarcoma, melanocytic differentiation, pluripotent tumor stem cells
Full text PDF
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Jun Liu, Department of Pathology
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/ School of Osteopathic Medicine (UMDNJ/SOM)
Kennedy Health System, 2201Chapel Ave, West Cherry Hill, NJ 08002, USA.
Tel: 856-488-6422, Fax: 856-488-6624
E-mail: liuju@umdnj.edu
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
