Endometrial malignancies arising on endometrial polyps and precursor lesions

Polyps are covered with endometrial epithelium and composed of varying proportions of gland, stroma, and blood vessels. Traditionally, endometrial polyps are accepted as a precursor of cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between malignancies arising on endometrial polyps and precursor lesions of these malignancies.

Data of patients who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy because of a malignancy diagnosed on endometrial polyps were obtained retrospectively from pathology archives.

When all malignancies on endometrial polyp were considered, 37% of cases were Type I, 55% were Type II, and 7% were carcinosarcoma. Endometrial intraepithelial carcinoma (EIC) was detected as tumor-adjacent areas on the polyp in eight of the patients who were diagnosed with serous carcinoma.

The authors found a precursor lesion in 20 (74%) of their patients who showed endometrial malignancy developing on endometrial polyps. Even when an overt malignancy is not detected on polyps in the curettage material, precursor lesions should be carefully searched.