Histopathology and steroid receptors in endometrial polyps of postmenopausal patients under hormone-replacement therapy

Objective To study the histopathology of endometrial polyps that had develo ped during 6-18 months of hormone-replacement therapy (HRT), and to determi ne the status of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in these lesions. Design Retrospective study. Subjects Fifty-five menopausal patients receiving HRT who had endometrial p olyps Interventions Polypectomy followed by endometrial resection. Results Endometrial polyps have foci of hyperplasia that do not respond to progestin in menopausal patients receiving HRT. This is associated with lac k of progesterone receptors in both stroma and glands. On the other hand, o estrogen receptors are expressed in endometrial polyps. Conclusions Endometrial polyps in menopausal patients receiving HRT respond only to oestrogens but not to progestins. The unopposed oestrogenic action on polyps may favour the development of premalignant hyperplasia and carci noma.