English

Abstract

BACKGROUND : Polypoidal lesions of cervix show various morphological spectrum ranging from inflammatory to neoplastic lesions. In addition to endocervical polyps there are many other polypoidal lesions that appear clinically like endocervical polyps. They are often secondarily inflamed or ulcerated and contain foci of squamous metaplasia. AIM : To study clinicopathological aspects of cervical polypoid lesions. OBJECTIVES : To study the histopathological features of cervical polypoid lesions and to assess their associated clinical features and age wise incidence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All specimens mentioned as cervical polyp based on the clinical appearance were included in the study. All such polyps from cervix/cervical os were removed and sent for histopathological examination to our department. In some cases we got complete polyp and in some fragments of polyp. All these Specimens obtained with relevant clinical data were formalin fixed and processed with standard procedures. Sections were stained with routine Haematoxylin and eosin stain. We studied various histopathological features and analysed for associated clinical features. RESULTS: During the study period we got 22 cases of cervical polyps. They are common between 20- 50yrs. Common associated clinical features were history of bleeding per vagina or white discharge per vagina. The most common type of polypoidal lesion in this study was classical Endocervical polyp(13). Most of them showed cystic changes and nearly half of endocervical polyps showed squamous metaplasia . Other polypoidal lesions we encountered in this study were Leiomyoma (3), Adenomatous polyp (1), Adenoleiomyoma (1) and Nabothian cyst (2). CONCLUSION: It appears that the entities such as Polypoidal endocervicitis , Endocervical polyp and Fibroepithelial polyp belong to spectrum of a single entity in the pathogenesis process with Polypoidal endocervicitis as initial lesion, Endocervical polyp as intermediate lesion and Fibroepithelial polyp as a last stage in the pathogenesis process of same entity. They need to be removed in symptomatic cases and in cases where there is high probability of harboring malignant foci. Regular followup can be done in other cases. Further large studies needs to be conducted to evaluate various aspects of endocervical polyps.