Small cell carcinoma of the endometrium: Multidetector CT and MR imaging features

Primary small cell carcinoma of the endometrium (SCCE) is an uncommon and aggressive neoplasm, occurring in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. We report the multidetector CT and MR imaging findings in a case of SCCE in a 63-year-old woman, referred to the Gynecology clinic for a sonographically detected pelvic tumor. A large, heterogeneously enhancing uterine mass was revealed, accompanied by bulky pelvic and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy and peritoneal metastases. Based on the cross-sectional imaging findings the accurate preoperative characterization of the histologic type of the neoplasm was difficult. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy with hysterectomy, bilateral salpingooophorectomy, lymphadenectomy and omenectomy. Histology revealed a small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the endometrium and the tumor was surgically staged as IIIC. The patient received systematic chemotherapy and showed minimal disease on follow-up CT examination, 9 months after surgery.