Cervical polyp: evaluation of current treatment

The removal of a cervical polyp is routinely accompanied by a fractionated dilatation and curettage (D&C) in various institutions. In order to assess the necessity of performing a D&C on all the patients admitted with the diagnosis of a cervical polyp, we reviewed the charts of 362 patients admitted for a cervical polypectomy and D&C during a 5-year period. The procedure was performed on a day clinic basis under general anesthesia. No serious complications were noted. In 218 women (60%) the discovery of the cervical polyp was incidental and in this group no malignant change was found in the polyp or in the endometrium. Six cases of atypical hyperplasia and 2 cases of adenocarcinoma of the endometrium were found in the symptomatic group of patients (40%). Removal of the polyp as an outpatient procedure is recommended of the asymptomatic patient. Hospitalization and removal of the polyp under general anesthesia, accompanied by D&C should be reserved for the symptomatic patients only, or even then, replaced by ambulatory polypectomy and endometrial sampling.