What Is a Carcinosarcoma?

Carcinosarcoma is defined as a malignant tumor composed of a malignant epithelial component (carcinoma) and a malignant mesenchymal component (sarcoma).

Carcinosarcoma

Carcinosarcoma Definition

Carcinosarcoma is defined as a malignant tumor composed of a malignant epithelial component (carcinoma) and a malignant mesenchymal component (sarcoma).

Pathological differentiation of carcinoma and sarcoma tissue

Carcinosarcoma carcinoma

It is more common, about 9 times of sarcoma, and more common in adults over 40 years of age. The general characteristics are harder, grayish and dry. Histological features often form cancer nests, with clear boundaries between parenchyma and interstitial tissue, less fibrous tissue proliferation, and more no reticular fibers. Multiple lymphatic metastases.

Carcinosarcoma sarcoma

Rare, mostly seen in adolescents. The general features are soft, grayish red, moist, and fish-like. The sarcoma cells are diffusely distributed, the boundary between the substance and the stroma is unclear, the blood vessels in the stroma are abundant, and the fibrous tissue is small. Most sarcoma cells have reticular fibers. Multiple bloodstream metastases.

Carcinosarcoma

Generally have the characteristics of epithelioid tumors and mesothelioma tumors, the epithelium is mainly squamous cell carcinoma, followed by adenocarcinoma. A few can be undifferentiated or small cell carcinoma. The stroma of a sarcomatoid carcinoma is often composed of spindle cells arranged in a chaotic or interlaced bundle. Sarcoma-like tissue appears as fibrosarcoma or malignant fibrous histiocytoma, without clear components such as bone, cartilage, and rhabdomyosarcoma.