How Often Are Endometrial Polyps Cancerous?

Endometrial polyps are diagnosed increasingly often, largely as a result of ultrasound imaging and hysteroscopy. But just how often are such polyps malignant, and what risk factors can be identified? To address these questions, researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 studies that involved 10,572 women who underwent polypectomies with histopathologic analysis. The investigators' definition of malignancy included both overt malignancy and endometrial hyperplasia with atypia.

In all, 377 endometrial polyps (3.6%) were malignant. Neoplasia was identified in 5.5% of postmenopausal women compared with 1.7% of premenopausal women (relative risk, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.9–5.1). Women with abnormal uterine bleeding w…