Undifferentiated carcinoma of the broad ligament in a 28-year-old woman - A case report and results of immunohistochemical and electron-microscopic studies

A case of undifferentiated carcinoma of the broad ligament is reported. The patient was a 28-year-old Japanese woman who underwent laparotomy for a cystic and solid tumor of the left broad ligament. The tumor measured 9 cm in diameter and was unattached to the uterus, ipsilateral ovary, or salpinx. Histological examination revealed tumor tissue consisting of solid nests of irregular configuration and rather small to medium-sized undifferentiated epithelial cells. The tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin, but negative for CA125, epithelial membrane antigen, S-100 protein, amylase, carcinoembryonic antigen, chromogranin A, synaptophysin, HHF35, desmin, and vimentin. Electron-microscopic examination revealed gap junctions and primitive cellular junctions, but no intracytoplasmic mucous granules or microvilli on the surface of the tumor cells. This is the first report of undifferentiated carcinoma of the broad ligament as far as we have been able to determine from a search of the literature.