Uterine smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential: a retrospective evaluation of clinical pathology and immunohistochemistry features

AbstractBackgroundUterine smooth muscle tumor of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) is a group of uterine smooth muscle tumors which cannot be classified as a subtype of leiomyoma or leiomyosarcoma. Diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of these tumors are challenging due to recurrence, potential of malignancy, and metastasis.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted in southern Iran during 2011 to 2020. We included records of 21 patients with STUMP and 24 patients with leiomyoma by simple randomized sampling in the tertiary health care centers in Shiraz, southern Iran. Slides were reviewed by an expert pathologist for examining mitosis, necrosis, and atypia, and also proper blocks were selected for immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining.ResultsFrom 45 participants, 21 (46.7%) and 24 (53.3%) patients were in the STUMP and normal leiomyoma groups, respectively. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (OR (95% C.I)) of pathologic size in the range of 5–10 cm was significantly higher in the STUMP group compared with normal leiomyoma. (CI: 7.22 (1.44–36.22)). Additionally, hyaline necrosis 0.05 (0.0-0.91), mild to moderate atypia 0.02 (0.0-0.4), moderate to severe atypia 0.01 (0.0-0.22), focal atypia 0.01 (0-0.26) and diffuse atypia 0.01 (0-0.26) were significantly fewer in normal leiomyoma compared to the STUMP group. Negative P16 0.01 (0.0007-0.24) and negative Bcl2 0.22 (0.06–0.81) were significantly higher in the normal leiomyoma group compared with the STUMP group. The cut-off points for predicting STUMP were 2.5% (sensitivity = 62% and specificity = 100%) and 45% (sensitivity = 43% and specificity = 96%) for P16 and bcl2, respectively.ConclusionThe category and management of STUMP continues to progress. The diagnosis for STUMP mainly depends on the histopathological manifestations. No single IHC marker such as P53, P16, and Bcl-2 has proved robust enough in separating STUMP from other leiomyoma variants; however, according to our study, we suggest combination use of P16 and Bcl-2 (cut off 2.5 and 45%, respectively) to distinguish equivocal cases of STUMP.