title: Utility of a standardized protocol for submitting clinically suspected endometrial polyps to the pathology laboratory.
abstract: The purpose of the study is to assess whether a protocol for submitting clinically suspected endometrial polyps will improve the detection rate of polyps and evaluation of the background endometrium. A retrospective review from 1999 to 2015 was performed. Cases were divided into (1) polyps and curettings placed in 2 containers (separate, n=61) and (2) polyps and curettings placed in 1 container (combined, n=80). Polyps were identified in 100% of cases in the separate compared with 95% in the combined group (P=.62). The background endometrium was evaluable in 79% of cases in the combined compared to 90% in the separate group (P=.07). The frequency of hyperplasia without atypia, atypical hyperplasia, and carcinoma was 4.4%, 3.6%, and 1.5%, respectively. In conclusion, the enhanced rate of polyp detection and evaluation of the background endometrium in the separate group is minimal. This supports the recommendation of submitting endometrial polyps and curettings combined in 1 container.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.
authors.forename: Nida S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Safdar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.
authors.forename: Giovanna A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Giannico
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN. Electronic address: mokhtar.desouki@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Mohamed Mokhtar
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Desouki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D004714:Endometrial Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000473:pathology*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Carcinoma; Containers; Endometrial polyp; Evaluation; Hyperplasia; Protocol