Atypical endometrial polyps and the incidence of endometrial cancer: a retrospective cohort study

I. S. M. Jacobs, R. M. G. Tibosch*, P. M. A. J. Geomini, S. F. P. J. Coppus, M. Y. Bongers, N. van Hanegem

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of endometrial carcinoma, proven after hysterectomy, in patients diagnosed with atypical endometrial hyperplasia confined to a polyp. A secondary aim was to establish factors associated with (pre-)malignant alterations in a polyp.

Design A retrospective cohort study.

Setting Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+) and Maxima Medical Centre in Eindhoven/Veldhoven (Maxima MC).

Population Women who underwent a hysteroscopic polyp resection between 2008 and 2016.

Methods Patient characteristics and histopathology results of the polyp and, in the case of a hysterectomy, uterus were collected from patients' charts.

Results A total of 1445 complete hysteroscopic polyp resections were included. Of those, 1390 polyps showed benign histopathology results, 39 polyps contained atypical hyperplasia and 16 polyps contained endometrial carcinoma. A hysterectomy was performed in 35 women who were diagnosed with atypical hyperplasia confined to a polyp after hysteroscopic polyp resection. Histopathological assessment showed no additional (pre-)malignant changes of the endometrium in 12 women (30.8%), atypical hyperplasia in 11 women (28.2%) and endometrial carcinoma in 12 women (30.8%). None of the prognostic factors under consideration were significantly associated with (pre-)malignant changes in a polyp.

Conclusion The incidence of endometrial carcinoma in the surrounding endometrium after complete resection of a polyp with atypical hyperplasia is 30.8% in this study. This supports the current advice to perform a hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. No prognostic factor for (pre-)malignant changes in a polyp was established. Tweetable abstract The incidence of endometrial carcinoma after complete resection of a polyp with atypical hyperplasia is high.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)994-999
Number of pages6
JournalBjog-an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Volume127
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2020

Keywords

  • Atypical hyperplasia
  • endometrial carcinoma
  • endometrium
  • polyp
  • (pre)malignant
  • INTRAUTERINE-DEVICE
  • HYPERPLASIA
  • WOMEN
  • PREVALENCE
  • MANAGEMENT
  • RISK
  • MALIGNANCY
  • PREDICTORS
  • CARCINOMA
  • DIAGNOSIS

Cite this