Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2019 May 2:7:2050312119848247.
doi: 10.1177/2050312119848247. eCollection 2019.

Endometrial polyps: Pathogenesis, sequelae and treatment

Njume Peter Nijkang  1   2 , Lyndal Anderson  2   3 , Robert Markham  1   2 , Frank Manconi  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Endometrial polyps: Pathogenesis, sequelae and treatment

Njume Peter Nijkang et al. SAGE Open Med. .

Abstract

Endometrial polyps are overgrowths of endometrial glands that typically protrude into the uterine cavity. Endometrial polyps are benign in nature and affect both reproductive age and postmenopausal women. Although endometrial polyps are relatively common and may be accompanied by abnormally heavy bleeding at menstruation. In asymptomatic women, endometrial polyps may regress spontaneously, in symptomatic women endometrial polyps can be treated safely and efficiently with hysteroscopic excision.

Keywords: Polyps; endometrial; uterine.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure. 1.
Figure. 1.
Illustration showing positions of sessile and pedunculated endometrial (uterine) polyps. Used with permission Artist: Designua. http://www.Shutterstock.com.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
(a) Tamoxifen-associated polyp with fibrotic stroma stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), magnification (100×). (b) Benign endometrial polyp with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), magnification (2×).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
(a) Mixed inflamed polyp with mast cells and thick walled blood vessels (TWBV) stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), magnification (200×), (b) Mast cells and eosinophil under higher magnification stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), magnification (400×).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS) image showing an endometrial polyp. Used with permission from Associate Professor Kirsten Black, Discipline of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, The University of Sydney via Dr Philippa Ramsay, Ultrasound Care, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Power Doppler or colour-flow ultrasound image showing the feeding blood vessel characteristic of an endometrial polyp. Adapted from Lieng et al. with permission from Professor Marit Lieng, Department of Gynaecology, RESearch Centre for Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RESCOG), Oslo University Hospital, Norway.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Saline infusion sonography (SIS) or Sonohysterography (SHG) ultrasound image showing an endometrial polyp. Used with permission from Associate Professor Kirsten Black, Discipline of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology, The University of Sydney via Dr Philippa Ramsay, Ultrasound Care, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
(a) Microscopic appearance of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained endometrial polyp, magnification (100×). (b) Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) image of endometrial polyp illustrating central fibrosis and thick walled blood vessels (TWBV), magnification (100×).
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) image of endometrial polyp with complex hyperplasia, magnification (20×).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Reslová T, Tosner J, Resl M, et al. Endometrial polyps. A clinical study of 245 cases. Arch Gynecol Obstet 1999; 262(3–4): 133–139. - PubMed
    1. Peterson WP, Novak ER. Endometrial polyps. Obstet Gynecol 1956; 8(1): 40–49. - PubMed
    1. Moon SH, Lee SE, Jung IK, et al. A giant endometrial polyp with tamoxifen therapy in postmenopausal woman. Korean J Obstet Gynecol 2011; 54(12): 836–840.
    1. Hamani Y, Eldar I, Sela HY, et al. The clinical significance of small endometrial polyps. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2013; 170(2): 497–500. - PubMed
    1. Weschler T. Taking charge of your fertility. Revised ed. New York: Harper Collins, 2002.

LinkOut - more resources