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Endometrial stromal sarcoma

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Stephen C. Rubin, MD
Last Modified: May 5, 2002

Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts,"
My 29-year-old wife was recently diagnosed with Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma, Stage IIIb. She's undergone TAH/BSO, was found to be ER/PR positive, and is currently taking Megace 160mg q d. The final grade was determined to be LOW. I can find very little in the literature about ESS and premenopausal patients. Can you give me some information?  

Stephen C. Rubin, MD, Professor and Chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Health System, responds:

Endometrial stromal sarcoma is a rare malignancy that develops from the supporting (stromal) cells of the uterine lining (endometrium). It is quite unusual to see it in a premenopausal woman. The outlook depends on both the stage (where it is in the body) and the grade (the way it looks under the microscope). Many gynecologic oncologists would recommend radiation therapy for women with early endometrial stromal sarcomas, and hormonal treatment with a progestational agent such as Megace is often recommended as well.