Cytologic and histologic findings of endometrial clear cell adenocarcinoma

Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the endometrium is relatively rare.Among 162 cases of endometrial carcinoma, 5 cases of clear cell adenocarcinoma have been identified in our department over the last 12 years.Histologic and cytologic findings of the 5 cases with clear cell adenocarcinoma were examined.The backgroud of the smear, which contained red blood cells and variant inflammatory cells, was not clear.The cytologic features of the solid type included a sheet-like arrangement and abundant clear cytoplasm, both of which were characteristic.Tumor cells of the solid type had round unclei which showed slight anisonucleosis, fine granular chromatin and small nucleoli.On the other hand, the tumor cells of papillary and tubulocystic types were found in clusters, but were seen in a sheet-like arrangement in some parts. These nuclei were large with fine or coarse granular chromatin and prominent large nucleoli.It may be difficult to cytologically differentiate clear cell adenocarcinomas from other adenocarcinomas of papillary and tubulocystic type.