eISSN: 2084-9869
ISSN: 1233-9687
Polish Journal of Pathology
Current issue Archive Manuscripts accepted About the journal Supplements Editorial board Abstracting and indexing Subscription Contact Instructions for authors Publication charge Ethical standards and procedures
Editorial System
Submit your Manuscript
SCImago Journal & Country Rank
2/2021
vol. 72
 
Share:
Share:
Case report

Skene’s gland adenocarcinoma coexisting with infiltrating urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder

Michał Kunc
1
,
Wojciech Biernat
1

  1. Department of Pathomorphology, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland
Pol J Pathol 2021; 72 (2): 170-173
Online publish date: 2021/09/30
Article file
- 09-PJP-01815.pdf  [4.32 MB]
Get citation
 
PlumX metrics:
 

Introduction

Skene’s glands, also known as periurethral glands or “female prostate”, are located near to urethral meatus, empty into the vaginal vestibule, and provide lubrication for sexual intercourse. In terms of embryology, Skene’s glands are homologous to the male prostate. They are lined by two layers of cells: apical columnar or cuboidal cells (secretory layer) and basal cells (reserve layer) [1, 2]. Both of them express prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and the source of PSA in female serum and urine [1].Skene’s gland adenocarcinoma (SGA) is an extraordinarily rare malignancy with 13 cases described to date, including a series of 4 cases published recently by Tregnago and Epstein [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12]. Thus, we would like to report a unique case of a microscopic SGA discovered incidentally after a cystectomy that was performed due to infiltrating urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

Case report

A seventy-eight-year-old female patient was admitted to the Urology Department of University Clinical Center Hospital in Gdańsk, Poland, due to suspicion of a bladder malignancy. She had been experiencing hematuria and dysuria for the past several months. An ultrasound scan revealed a hypervascular mass measuring up to 71 mm, adjacent to the left lateral wall of the bladder, and the left part of the trigone. The left ureter, renal calyces, and pelvis were dilated. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggested transmural invasion. The tumor mass was papillary in nature, contrast-enhancing, and presented prominent decreased diffusion in the arterial phase. Subsequently, an uneventful radical cystectomy was performed. Histopathological examination of the obtained material revealed high-grade infiltrating urothelial carcinoma, with deep invasion of the bladder wall. There was also microscopic invasion of the perivesical adipose tissue, vaginal stroma, uterus, and regional lymph nodes (pT4aN2). Vascular invasion was prominent. In the bladder neck, besides the foci of urothelial carcinoma, a distinctive neoplastic infiltrate was identified. It measured 3 mm in its largest dimension and was composed of the coalescent and fused glands morphologically resembling acinar adenocarcinoma, Gleason grade 4+3=7 (Gleason group 3), and complex glands resembling the cribriform and micropapillary pattern of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) (Fig. 1). High molecular weight cytokeratin (HMWCK), GATA3, p63, and p40 stainings showed a basal cell distribution in the PIN-like component and were completely negative in invasive elements. Both components showed positive staining with prostate-specific antigen (PSA), prostein, androgen receptor (AR), and CAM 5.2, but were negative for α-methylacyl-CoA racemase (AMACR), erythroblast transformation-specific [ETS]-related gene (ERG), cytokeratin 7 (CK7), cytokeratin 19 (CK19), cytokeratin 20 (CK20), estrogen receptor (ER), and GATA3. On the other hand, adjacent PIN-like glands showed focal strong CK19 staining. The focus of the infiltrating urothelial carcinoma was positive for HMWCK, CAM 5.2, CK19, CK20, p40, p63, and GATA3, and negative for prostatic markers. The summary of immunohistochemical results is shown in Table I. Eventually, the diagnosis of SGA coexisting with infiltrating urothelial carcinoma was established.

Discussion

In males, it is not uncommon to see coincidental bladder urothelial carcinoma and prostate acinar adenocarcinoma after cystoprostatectomy [13]. In various studies, the frequency of this combination ranges from 2 to 58% [14]. In particular, the concomitance between these two malignancies is higher than the rate of either one in the general population, suggesting a potential pathogenetic link. Nevertheless, the coexistence of SGA and urothelial carcinoma has not yet been reported. Two out of 13 previous cases had a history of malignancy treated with radiation (ovarian and cervical carcinoma) and one autopsy case showed synchronous renal cell carcinoma [3]. Our case is the first one diagnosed incidentally and without a macroscopically visible lesion. Therefore, it is possible that the frequency of SGA is higher, but small and well-differentiated lesions might be clinically insignificant, which is similar in the case of low-volume, low-grade prostate cancers in elderly male patients. Interestingly, the majority of SGA cases were described in elderly patients and had a favorable clinical course without metastases.
Only one case, diagnosed in a relatively young patient (46-year-old), metastasized to regional lymph nodes [11]. In males below the age of 55, frequently aggressive forms of prostate carcinomas are present. [15]. Due to its scarcity, it is uncertain if prognosis in SGA depends on the patient’s age or other factors, such as the Gleason score. Nevertheless, the most common Gleason pattern seems to be 4 + 4 = 8, often with cribriform tumor architecture [3]. Another similarity associated with prostate cancer is an elevated PSA level in serum, which is a useful clue indicating the presence of a primary paraurethral neoplasm in females, and its decline may serve as a marker of successful therapy [8]. Unfortunately, in our case, PSA levels were not measured due to the lack of preoperative clinical suspicion of SAG.
Positive immunohistochemical stains in SGA reported in prior literature include PSA, prostate-specific acid phosphatase (PSAP), NKX3.1, prostein, AMACR, and CK7. One case showed ER expression, and did not express any available prostatic markers, but retained prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma-like morphology [3]. Moreover, CK20 and CDX2 positivity were reported in two cases displaying intestinal differentiation [4]. Hereby, we report AR as one more positive immunohistochemical marker of SGA but it requires further validation. Immunostains for p40, p64, and HMWCK were positive in basal cells of PIN-like elements, and a similar staining pattern was observed in the in situ component of some other cases of SGA [3]. Furthermore, our case suggests that these markers, together with GATA3, are effective in differentiating urothelial carcinoma and SGA.
Murphy et al. suggested that there are three potential origins of urethral adenocarcinoma development: urethritis glandularis (mucinous adenocarcinoma), Skene’s gland (adenocarcinoma resembling male prostate cancer), and the third unknown pathway leading to the formation of clear cell carcinoma [10]. We demonstrate the co-occurrence of obvious high-grade PIN-like component, which may support the step-wise fashion development of SGA from precursor lesions, as in the male prostate. The differential diagnosis of urethral carcinomas is important since the above-mentioned cancers tend to be more aggressive than Skene’s gland adenocarcinoma. Potential diagnostic pitfalls include focal mucinous differentiation in Skene’s gland adenocarcinoma and occasional expression of prostate antigens by clear cell carcinoma [16]. Moreover, prostatic tissue reactive with anti-PSA antibodies may exceptionally appear in the female genitourinary tract, i.e. in the uterine cervix, ovarian cystic teratoma, or ovarian mesonephric nests [17–19]. Interestingly, a unique case of evident prostatic adenocarcinoma arising in ovarian teratoma has been described [18]. Skene’s gland lesions have also been described in the vagina (tubulo-squamous polyp) [20].

Conclusions

We have described a unique case of incidental Skene’s gland adenocarcinoma accompanied by a high-grade PIN-like component synchronous with infiltrating urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder. This combination has not been previously reported in the literature. This coincidence may indicate a common pathogenetic pathway of the cancerogenesis in Skene’s gland and urinary bladder, however, this hypothesis requires further studies.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Alexandra Kamieniecki for language proofreading of the manuscript.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

1. Zaviacic M, Ablin RJ. The female prostate and prostate-specific antigen. Immunohistochemical localization, implications of this prostate marker in women and reasons for using the term “prostate” in the human female. Histol Histopathol 2000; 15: 131-142.
2. Zaviacic M, Jakubovská V, Belosovic M, Breza J. Ultrastructure of the normal adult human female prostate gland (Skene’s gland). Anat Embryol (Berl) 2000; 201: 51-61.
3. Tregnago AC, Epstein JI. Skene’s glands adenocarcinoma:
4. a series of 4 cases. Am J Surg Pathol 2018; 42: 1513-1521.
5. Muto M, Inamura K, Ozawa N, et al. Skene’s gland adenocarcinoma with intestinal differentiation: A case report and literature review. Pathol Int 2017; 67: 575-579.
6. Svanholm H, Andersen OP, Røhl H. Tumour of female paraurethral duct. Immunohistochemical similarity with prostatic carcinoma. Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopathol 1987; 411: 395-398.
7. Dodson MK, Cliby WA, Keeney GL, et al. Skene’s gland adenocarcinoma with increased serum level of prostate-specific antigen. Gynecol Oncol 1994; 55: 304-307.
8. Pongtippan A, Malpica A, Levenback C, et al. Skene’s gland adenocarcinoma resembling prostatic adenocarcinoma. Int
9. J Gynecol Pathol 2004; 23: 71-74.
10. Korytko TP, Lowe GJ, Jimenez RE, et al. Prostate-specific antigen response after definitive radiotherapy for Skene’s gland adenocarcinoma resembling prostate adenocarcinoma. Urol Oncol Semin Orig Investig 2012; 30: 602-606.
11. Zaviacic M, Sidlo J, Borovský M. Prostate specific antigen and prostate specific acid phosphatase in adenocarcinoma of Skene’s paraurethral glands and ducts. Virchows Arch A Pathol Anat Histopathol 1993; 423: 503-505.
12. Murphy DP, Pantuck AJ, Amenta PS, et al. Female urethral adenocarcinoma: immunohistochemical evidence of more than 1 tissue of origin. J Urol 1999; 161: 1881-1884.
13. Sloboda J, Zaviačič M, Jakubovský J, et al. Metastasizing adenocarcinoma of the female prostate (Skene’s paraurethral glands). Pathol Res Pract 1998; 194: 129-136.
14. Kyriazis G, Varughese A, Rodrigues G, Simms M. A rare case of Skene’s gland adenocarcinoma. Clin Genitourin Cancer 2020; 18: e300-e302.
15. Gakis G, Schilling D, Bedke J, et al. Incidental prostate cancer at radical cystoprostatectomy: implications for apex-sparing surgery. BJU Int 2010; 105: 468-471.
16. Damiano R, Di Lorenzo G, Cantiello F, et al. Clinicopathologic features of prostate adenocarcinoma incidentally discovered at the time of radical cystectomy: an evidence-based analysis. Eur Urol 2007; 52: 648-657.
17. Salinas CA, Tsodikov A, Ishak-Howard M, Cooney KA. Prostate cancer in young men: An important clinical entity. Nat Rev Urol 2014; 11: 317-323.
18. Spencer JR, Brodin AG, Ignatoff JM. Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra: evidence for origin within paraurethral ducts. J Urol 1990; 143: 122-125.
19. Nucci MR, Ferry JA, Young RH. Ectopic prostatic tissue in the uterine cervix: a report of four cases and review of ectopic prostatic tissue. Am J Surg Pathol 2000; 24: 1224-1230.
20. Halabi M, Oliva E, Mazal PR, et al. Prostatic tissue in mature cystic teratomas of the ovary: a report of four cases, including one with features of prostatic adenocarcinoma, and cytogenetic studies. Int J Gynecol Pathol 2002; 21: 261-267.
21. Smith CE, Toplis PJ, Nogales FF. Ovarian prostatic tissue originating from hilar mesonephric rests. Am J Surg Pathol 1999; 23: 232-236.
22. Kelly P, McBride HA, Kennedy K, et al. Misplaced Skene’s glands. Int J Gynecol Pathol 2011; 30: 605-612.
Copyright: © 2021 Polish Association of Pathologists and the Polish Branch of the International Academy of Pathology This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material, provided the original work is properly cited and states its license.
Quick links
© 2024 Termedia Sp. z o.o.
Developed by Bentus.