Clinico-pathological study of cervical polyps.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence of malignancy in cervical polyps and determine the effect of age and parity on clinical presentation.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of histological diagnosis and demographic information relating to 294 polyps was undertaken. Comparison was made between premenopausal and postmenopausal women as well as women with and without recurrent polyps.

RESULTS

There was no case of malignancy. Majority of the women were parous (71.8%), asymptomatic (65.9%) and had their polyps removed in the outpatient setting (69.9%). The recurrence rate was 12.6%. The predominant symptom was IMB/PCB. Women with recurrent polyps were 10 times more likely to be parous (OR = 10.1, 95% CI 1.4-74.8), 7.9 times more likely to have symptoms (OR = 7.9, 95% CI 3.5-17.1) and 4.8 times more likely to have polyps removed under general anaesthesia (OR = 4.8, 95% CI 2.4-9.9). Postmenopausal women were 2.2 times more likely to have symptoms (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.6-4.7) and 1.7 times more likely to have general anaesthesia (OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.0-3.1).

CONCLUSION

Cervical polyps are mainly benign, asymptomatic lesions and recur in about 12.6% of women. They are more likely to be symptomatic in postmenopausal women.