The morphological spectrum of primary ovarian mucinous and seromucinous tumours is broad, and presents an array of diagnostic challenges, many unique to these tumour types. This reflects the heterogeneous nature of these lesions, their varied histogenesis and evolving classification systems over recent decades, with further modification to the seromucinous category incorporated in the recently published 5th edition of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Classification of female genital tumours . In this review we provide an update on the classification of these neoplasms and discuss their histogenesis and diverse morphology, focusing on areas which are diagnostically problematic. We also cover tumour grading, differential diagnosis, immunohistochemistry, the recent elucidation of the molecular underpinnings of ovarian mucinous neoplasia and discuss the gross and intra‐operative handling of these tumours. A number of diagnostic issues remain unresolved, highlighting the importance of further research on this front, as well as a multidisciplinary approach in the care of patients with ovarian mucinous and seromucinous neoplasia.
A pattern-based classification system has been recently proposed for invasive endocervical adenocarcinoma, which is predictive of the risk of nodal metastases. Identifying cases at risk of nodal involvement is most relevant at the time of biopsy and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) to allow for optimal surgical planning, and, most importantly, consideration of lymphadenectomy. This study aims to determine the topography of patterns of stromal invasion in invasive endocervical adenocarcinoma with emphasis on patterns in biopsy, cone, and LEEP. Invasive pattern was assessed following the pattern-based classification (Patterns A, B, and C) in 47 invasive endocervical adenocarcinomas treated with hysterectomy or trachelectomy and correlated with pattern of invasion at the tumor surface (2 mm of tumor depth) and on preoperative biopsy and cone/LEEP. Patterns A, B, and C were present in 21.3%, 36.2%, and 42.5% of cases, respectively. Most pattern A cases were Stage IA (90%), whereas most Pattern B and C cases were Stage IB (76.5% and 80%, respectively). Horizontal spread was on average larger in Pattern C (24.1 mm) than in Patterns A and B (7.7 and 12.3 mm, respectively). Pattern at the tumor surface correlated with the overall pattern in 95.7% of cases. Concordance between patterns at cone/LEEP and hysterectomy was 92.8%; the only discrepant case was upgraded from Pattern A on LEEP to C on final excision. Agreement between patterns in biopsy and the overall tumor, however, was only 37.5%. In all discrepant cases, biopsy failed to reveal destructive invasion, which was evident on excision. All discrepant biopsies with pattern A showed glandular complexity resembling exophytic papillary growth but did not meet criteria for destructive invasion. On excision, marked gland confluence with papillary architecture was evident. We conclude that the pattern of invasion on cone/LEEP is a good predictor of pattern of invasion on hysterectomy, particularly if there is destructive invasion (B or C). Thus, pattern-based classification can be successfully applied in these samples to guide definitive surgical treatment. Prediction of the overall pattern based on biopsy material alone appears to be suboptimal. However, glandular confluence and complexity on biopsy, regardless of its size, appears to be associated with destructive invasion in the overall tumor.
Primary pancreatic tumours are extremely rare in children. We report a case of a 5-month-old male with a diffuse invasive tumour of the head of the pancreas. The tumour demonstrated peripancreatic extension into the porta hepatis, which occluded the portal vein and invaded the superior mesenteric artery. It was found to be haemangioendotheliomatosis of the pancreas. Imaging, pathological findings and a brief relevant classification of haemangioma are discussed.
