[Clinical characteristics of 42 cases of malignant endometrial polyps]

To investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics of premalignant and malignant endometrial polyps (EP) in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

A retrospective analysis was conducted in 42 cases of premalignant and malignant EP from 1993 to 2012. Polyps were classified into premenopausal (group A, 10 cases) and menopausal (group B, 32 cases), including 26 cases of endometrioid adenocarcinoma, 4 of clear cell carcinoma, 9 of serous adenocarcinoma, and 3 of atypical hyperplasia.

The prevalence rate of premalignant and malignant EP was 1.42% (42/2 965), the prevalence rate of malignancy in postmenopausal and postmenopausal women was 0.48% (10/2 064) and 3.55% (32/901), respectively. The mean size of EP was (1.6 ± 0.8) cm, abnormal uterine bleeding was positive in 90% (38/42) of cases. The EP pathological diagnosis showed all were endometrioid adenocarcinoma in group A, while there were 4 of clear cell carcinoma, 9 of serous adenocarcinoma in group B. The mean size of EP was (1.1 ± 0.6) and (1.7 ± 0.9) cm in group A and B respectively (P < 0.05). According to immunohistochemistry, all cases of group A were ER positive, but 41% (11/27) of group B were ER negative (P = 0.059). The PR positive rate was 8/9 and 56% (15/27) in group A and B, respectively (P = 0.169).

The risk of the EP malignancy rate is higher, while ER, PR positive rate are lower in postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal EP, especially accompanied by abnormal uterine bleeding and large polyps should be removed as soon as possible.