Abstract

The development of carcinoma in adenomyosis has rarely been reported (5), whereas the occurrence of malignant changes in foci of external endometriosis has been noted more frequently(1). Sampson(7) postulated certain rigid criteria which may be modified to apply to carcinoma developing in adenomyosis. These are : 1. The absence of carcinoma in the normally situated endometrium and elsewhere in the pelvis. 2. The carcinoma must actually be seen to arise from the epithelium of areas of adenomyosis and not to be invading it from some other sources. 3. The endometrial stromal cells must surround the aberrent glands to support the diagnosis of adenomyosis. In none of the cases reported by Coleman Rosenthal(1) was noted squamous component in the developing carcinomas. It seems extremely rare to see primary squamous cell carcinoma originating in adenomyosis. Certain prerequisities for the diagnosis of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the corpus uteri are the following as claimed by Peris et al. (6): It is essential that there be no evidence, past or present, of squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. In the presence of a coincidental adenocarcinoma of the endometrium, squamous epithelium from the uterine corpus must be carefully studied to rule out adenoacanthoma. The author recently has encountered a seemingly authentic case of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine corpus arising in adenomyosis with direct invasion of the rectosigmoid colon causing intestinal obstruction. Because this represents a rare gynecological disorder, the case is being presented.