Detection of endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) in postmenopausal endometrium

• Published in: Maturitas Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 153 - 161
• Main Authors: Maia, Hugo, Maltez, Amélia, Athayde, Célia, Coelho, Genevieve, Coutinho, Elsimar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 20.10.2003; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma in Situ - diagnosis; Carcinoma in Situ - pathology; Endometrial Hyperplasia; Endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia; Endometrial Neoplasms - diagnosis; Endometrial Neoplasms - pathology; Female; Female genital diseases; Genes, bcl-2; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases - isolation & purification; Postmenopausal endometrium; Postmenopause; PTEN Phosphohydrolase; PTEN, bcl-2; Tumor Suppressor Proteins - isolation & purification; Tumors; PTEN, bcl-2; Endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia; Postmenopausal endometrium; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Premalignant lesion; bcl-2; Malignant tumor; Female genital diseases; Anatomic pathology; Uterus; Uterine diseases; Postmenopause; Female; Endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia; Postmenopausal endometrium; PTEN; Diagnosis; Intraepithelial neoplasia; Endometrium
• ISSN: 0378-5122; 1873-4111
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-5122(03)00186-5

Objectives: To detect the presence of endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) in the endometrium of postmenopausal patients. Patients and Methods: Sixty-three postmenopausal patients with endometrial polyps ( n=48), hyperplasia ( n=12) and endometrioid carcinoma ( n=3) were enrolled for this study. The diagnosis of EIN was made by using morphological criteria and immunohistochemical methods for detection of PTEN and bcl-2. Results: EIN lesions were found in cases of endometrial polyp ( n=1), atrophic endometrium ( n=1) and in hyperplasia ( n=1). The glands were packed, showed cytological atypia and were negative for both PTEN and bcl-2. Three patients with endometrial hyperplasia had isolated PTEN-negative glands but they were still bcl-2 positive. Conclusions: The use of immunohistochemical methods helps detect the presence of EIN in the postmenopausal endometrium but does not substitute the morphological criteria for this diagnosis.