ISSN 0300-9092 (Print)
ISSN 2412-5679 (Online)

Oncological aspects of endometrial polyps in peri- and postmenopausal women

Klinyshkova T.V.

Omsk State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, Omsk, Russia

Benign endometrial proliferative changes are the primary factor contributing to the risk of cancer, especially in peri- and postmenopausal women, as the incidence of uterine cancer rises.
The aim of the review is to focus on the risks of developing uterine cancer among menopausal patients with endometrial polyps (EPs) and on patient management tactics.
The paper presents the current data on the incidence of EPs, the frequency of precancerous lesions and endometrial cancer, depending on the course of the disease. The frequency of EPs in women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) averages 38%. EPs are characterized by an asymptomatic course in peri- and postmenopausal women, as well as in women with AUB (33.4–58.9%). In recent years, there has been a trend towards an increase in atypical and malignant EPs, with a higher prevalence in postmenopausal women (4.93%) compared to those in the menopausal transition phase (1.12%). In postmenopausal women, endometrial cancer develops both in the polyp itself and in the surrounding endometrium; in late postmenopausal women, the incidence of endometrial cancer in patients over 65 years of age is 9%. The risk of malignancy exists in both symptomatic and asymptomatic EPs. There is an analysis of risk factors for EP malignancy, which include menopausal status, AUB, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, tamoxifen intake, as well as multiple growth patterns and a history of nulliparity. The clinical and diagnostic characteristics in the detection of precancerous endometrium and endometrial cancer in patients with EP are considered.
Conclusion: EP in peri- and postmenopausal women is one of the main causes of AUB, postmenopausal bleeding, and the risk of malignancy, which is increased in postmenopausal women. Risk factors for EP malignancy have been identified with the maximum significance of menopausal status and AUB. Due to the variety of approaches to managing patients with EP in the world, symptomatic EP needs urgent removal. In case of asymptomatic course of EP in postmenopausal women, there is a persistence of cancer risk, which limits the use of wait-and-see tactics.

Conflicts of interest: The author declares that there are no conflicts of interest.
Funding: The study was carried out without sponsorship.
For citation: Klinyshkova T.V. Oncological aspects of  endometrial polyps in peri- and postmenopausal women.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2025; (11): 47-52 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2025.174

Keywords

endometrial polyps
abnormal uterine bleeding
asymptomatic endometrial polyps
perimenopause
postmenopause
endometrial cancer
risk factor

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Received 27.06.2025

Accepted 01.11.2025

About the Authors

Tatyana V. Klinyshkova, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology No. 1, Omsk State Medical University,
Ministry of Health of Russia, 644099, Russia, Omsk, Lenin str., 12, +7(3812)23-02-93, +7(913)617-44-25, klin_tatyana@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0544-8184

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