in Yaoundé (Cameroon)

Carcinosarcoma of the uterus is a rare tumor representing 2-4 % of uterine malignancies. Its prognosis is poor with a 5 years survival rate of 10-30%. We report a first documented case of carcinosarcoma occurring in a 62 years old woman who presented with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding for one year. The preoperative biopsy of endometrium revealed a leiomyosarcoma. Total body Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan revealed a mass limited to the uterus without other abnormalities. We carried out a total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Post operative histology of the specimen found a carcinosarcoma. The patient underwent a course of radiotherapy and a total body CT Scan done eight months later revealed no signs of recurrence or metastasis. Clinicopathological aspects, treatment options and prognosis of this aggressive neoplasm are reviewed. We recommend practitioners to be aware of this lesion for an early diagnosis and appropriate treatment