Primary Vulvar Ewing Sarcoma in a 30-Year-Old Woman: A Case Report (Case Report)
1. Introduction
Primary Ewing sarcoma (ES) and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) are considered Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT), characterized by chromosomal translocation t(11; 22) (q24; q12) leading to a chimeric transcript EWS-FLI1 (a member of ETS gene) in 85% of cases [1] . In 5% - 10% of cases EWS gene is fused with other members of Erythroblast Transformation-Specific (ETS) gene (ERG, ETV 1, ETV 4 and FEV). ES/PNET is an aggressive malignant round cell tumor yet chemosensitive [2] . They commonly affect bones and especially diaphysis of longs bones. Extraskeletal ES/PNET can arise anywhere in the body, including soft tissue, skin and visceral organs [3] . However, they have been rarely found in the female genital tract, with occasional reports of tumors arising in the vulva, vagina, cervix, uterine corpus, broad ligament, and ovary [4] .
Here, we present a case of 30-year-old woman with a confirmed ES arising in the vulva and we report a systematic review of the published literature regarding primary vulvar ES.
2. Case Report
A 30-year-old woman, with a history of two spontaneous vaginal deliveries at term, presented with progressive left vulvar swelling since 10 months.
Physical examination showed a “non-cystic”, painless, mobile lesion, 15 × 12 cm in size. She had no further symptoms or lesions. Abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) showed a mixed mass in the left vulva, 146 mm × 78 mm in size, which invades by contiguity the vagina, anal margin, low rectum, obturator muscle, ischion and pubis (Figure 1).
Blood test and chest CT were normal and bone scan showed ischion and pubis fixation. The extensive surgical resection of the lesion was not recommended due to patient’s young age, histological type, size and extension of the vulvar tumor. She underwent core biopsy.
Microscopic sections with hematoxylin and eosin staining (HES) displayed a malignant round cell tumor with monomorphic cells arranged in a diffuse manner, containing fine chromatin, scanty indistinct cytoplasm, and inconspicuous nucleoli (Figure 2).
Immunohistochemestry showed diffuse cytoplasmic membranous staining with CD99, suggesting ESFT diagnosis (Figure 3). In parallel, muscle markers
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Figure 1. Initial computed tomography scan of the pelvic showing a 147 mm × 78 mm sized mixed mass lesion in the left vulva with locally extension to the vaginal, anal canal, low rectum, obturator muscle, ischion and pubis.
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Figure 2. Microscopically (Hematoxylin and eosin staining ×20) showing monomorphic small round cells arranged in a diffuse manner, containing fine chromatin, scanty indistinct cytoplasm, and inconspicuous nucleoli.
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Figure 3. Immunohistochemical study usinganti-CD99 monocal antibody (EPR3097Y) and showing cytoplasmic membranous diffuse staining with CD99
(desmin, myogenin), CD45, the neuroendocrine markers (Synaptophysine andchromogranin A), epithelial markers (EMA, CKAE1/AE3), and Bcl2 were negative.
Finally, in molecular cytogenetic analyse, fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) showed 100% rearrangement of EWSR1 on chromosome 21 of 100 analyzed nuclei, confirming the diagnosis of primary vulvar ES/PNET.
Patient received combination chemotherapy with Doxorubicine 20 mg/m2/ Day (D), D1-3, Vincristine 2 mg D1, ifosfamide 2000 mg/m2/D, D1-D3 and uromitexan every three weeks. After six cycles, CT scan evaluation showed a 46% reduction of vulvar mass according to RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumor) 1.1 criteria [5] .
Extensive surgical resection of the residual lesion was not recommended in the multidisciplinary consultation meeting because of high R1 resection risk. External pelvic radiation therapy was delivered at a dose of 46 Gy. Then, patient receives monthly biphosphonate for the local bone extension. We regularly followed her with quarterly physical examination, blood test and chest, abdominal and pelvic CT scan. Since then, she had a stable disease with persistent mass of 41 × 30 mm in size after 22 months of follow up.
3. Discussion
Ewing sarcoma (ES) and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) family were regarded as distinct in the past. Recently, studies have shown that the small round-cell tumor seen in both tumor types share common phenotypic and molecular features, supporting the concept of a single tumor category [6] . ES/PNET are characterized by the fusion of the ESW gene on chromosome 22q12 with various members of the Erythroblast Transformation-Specific (ETS) gene family (FLI1, ERG, ETV1, ETV4 and FEV). The fusion with ESW and FLI1 on chromosome 11 and corresponding chromosomal translocation t(11; 22) (q24; q12) is present in 85% of patients with ES/PNET [7] .
ES/PNET are an uncommon high-grade malignant neoplasm that may affect both skeletal and extraskeletal sites. Extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma (EES) is an unusual aggressive tumor with poor prognosis. It involves soft tissues of the chest wall, extremities, paravertebral and retroperitoneal regions, pelvis and abdomen, skin, visceral organs, head and neck [8] [9] [10] [11] but rarely occurs in the female genital tract. In this last location, EES has extremely low incidence in the vulva with nearly 25 such documented cases in the literature (Table 1). Here, we report the twenty sixth case of primary vulvar EES in a 30-year-old woman who was treated with multiagent chemotherapy and definitive radiation. We also summarized the clinicopathologic details and management of previously described cases of vulvar EES together with our case.
Vulvar EES occurs in young women and women of reproductive age (as the case of our patient), median age is 20 years and mean age is 24 years ranging from 10 - 52 years (Table 1). In general, patients present with painless vulvar swelling.
The main morphology of ES is usually a lobulated architecture with solid aggregate of cells, forming sometimes rosettes [12] . Histologically, monomorphic population of small round blue cells, not well defined borders, scanty cytoplasm glycogen and high mitotic index are typical features of ES. In immunohistochemistry, the overexpression of CD99, a cell surface glycoprotein encoded by the MIC2 gene and positivity of Fli-1 in a nuclear pattern are other characteristics of ES [13] [14] [15] and have been demonstrated to be extremely useful in positive diagnosis [13] . CD99 antigen is a very sensitive marker but lacks specificity while Fli-1 is less sensitive but more specific than CD99 [3] [7] . Finally, molecular cytogenetic analysis (Reverse Transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR or fluorescence in situ hybridization, FISH) can detect the hybrid transcripts EWS/Fli-1, EWS/ERG and rearrangement of EWSR1 on chromosome 21 [3] [11] .
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Table 1. Clinicopathologic features of reported cases of vulvar ES/PNET.
CT: chemotherapy, RT: Radiotherapy, S: surgery, NK: not known, NA: not available, FOD: Free of disease, DOD: died of disease, AWD: alive of disease, RT-PCR: Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, FISH: Fluorescence in situ hybridization, EWSR1 R+: EWSR1 rearrangement positive, M: month, Y: Years, M+: metastases, *: 2 cases, **: 3 cases.
These main morphological, histological, immunohistochemical and cytogenetic features were all found in our reported case. In parallel, we excluded the differential diagnosis in immunohistochemistry staining as lymphoblastic lymphoma, small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, carcinosarcoma and epithelial carcinoma.
Treatment of vulvar EES includes complete surgical excision of the lesion, chemotherapy, and, occasionally, radiation therapy (Table 1).
Only one patient in the reported case (case 6) received chemotherapy follow by radiation therapy without surgery, as in our case. She developed chest metastases within a short period of time and subsequently died.
In our case, despite a radiologic downstaging according to the RECIST criteria 1.1 [5] , surgery was not attempted due to initial very advanced disease and the high risk of R1 resection (microscopic margin invasion).
Except in two cases of Cetiner and al, which had long follow-up (more than 4 and 7 years), others reported cases have been limited (ranging 7 - 20 months in 12 cases or died at short time in 4) or no long term follow up data (six cases). Thus, the best way of treating vulvar EES is difficult to predict but it appears clear that multimodal treatment is better.
Our patient received chemotherapy, and then radiotherapy. About 22 months after diagnosis, she is alive and no evidence of progressive disease.
4. Conclusions
Primary vulvar ES/PNET is a rare malignancy that requires early diagnosis and treatment. Multimodal treatment including surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy is required.
Because of the rare reported cases in literature, it is difficult to draw any conclusion about tumor behaviour, epidemiology or standard management. Studies of more cases of primary vulvar ES/PNET with longer follow-up periods are needed to clarify its clinicopathologic features and its treatment.
Disclosure
No author has any potential conflict of interest.