Uterine serous papillary carcinoma arising inside an endometrial polyp removed by hysteroscopy

Objective To describe a papillary, serous carcinoma arising in an endometri al polyp. Setting Endoscopy unit of a private, urban hospital. Interventions The polyp was diagnosed by hysteroscopy. Polypectomy was carr ied out using the 27F resectoscope. Steroid receptors and over-expression f or p53 and c-erb B2 protein were investigated in the polyp by immunohistoch emical methods. Results There was a focal area of papillary serous carcinoma in the endomet rial polyp. The malignant neoplasm showed over-expression for p53 and c-erb B2 oncoprotein and absence of oestrogen and progesterone receptors. Conclusions Alteration in the p53 tumour suppressor gene was an early event in the process of carcinogenesis in the polyp of this patient. This was as sociated with loss of steroid receptors and c-erb B2 amplification.