Cervical Polyps

Key Features

• Commonly occur after menarche and are occasionally noted in postmenopausal women

• The cause is not known, but inflammation may play an etiologic role

• Must be differentiated from polypoid neoplastic disease of the endometrium, small submucous pedunculated myomas, large nabothian cysts, and endometrial polyps

• Cervical polyps rarely contain dysplasia (0.5%) or malignant (0.5%) foci

Clinical Findings

• Discharge and abnormal vaginal bleeding

• Abnormal bleeding should not be ascribed to a cervical polyp without sampling the endocervix and endometrium

Diagnosis

• The polyps are visible in the cervical os on speculum examination

Treatment

• Cervical polyps can generally be removed in the office by avulsion with a uterine packing forceps or ring forceps

• Polyps with a wide base may require electrocautery at the base to prevent bleeding and decrease recurrence risk