Primary peritoneal carcinosarcoma: A report of two cases.

Objective: Carcinosarcomas also known as malignant mixed mullerian tumors (MMMTs) contain both carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. Most MMMTs are arising from female genital tract, including ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes. Extragenital carcinosarcomas are extremely rare, with an estimation less than 40 cases so far.

Methods: We report two cases of primary peritoneal carcinosarcomas. An 81-year-old woman with pelvic peritoneal carcinosarcoma, heterologous type, was treated with incomplete surgery without further chemotherapy, and died of disease soon. The other one was a 76 year-old woman with abdominal peritoneal carcinosarcoma, homologous type. After optimal debulking surgery and subsequent 6 cycles of combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy, the patient is free of tumor half of year.

Conclusions: Active therapy, including complete cytoreduction surgery and carboplatin-paclitaxel chemotherapy might offer a chance of disease control for these unusual primary peritoneal carcinosarcomas.