Endometrial Lesions in Makurdi, Nigeria: A Histological Review of Curetting Specimens

Background: Abnormal uterine bleeding is one of the common complaints warranting a search for endometrial abnormalities. Curettage specimens are valuable for histological diagnosis of a spectrum of endometrial lesions from placental tissue and infections to the precursor lesions of endometrial carcinoma.

Objective: To determine the frequency and age distribution of the lesions present on histopathological evaluation of endometrial curettage specimens in Makurdi, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of endometrial curettage tissue samples submitted in the pathology laboratory of Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, Nigeria from October 2012 to December 2016. The tissues were received in 10% formalin, processed and the tissue sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin routinely.

Results: Endometrial curetting specimens constituted 4.7% (132/2809) of the total number of specimens accessioned during the period of review. One hundred and five (82%) of the specimens were from premenopausal women. Retained products of conception was the most common entity in premenopausal women, accounted for 47.7% (61/128) and had a mean age of 29.3 ± 6.7 years. Other lesions included decidual reaction (10.2%, 13/128), Arias Stella reaction (8.6%, 11/128) and chronic endometritis (3.9%, 5/128). Endometrial hyperplasia was the most common lesion in both the perimenopausal (7%, 9/128) and postmenopausal (4.7%, 6/128) women. Endometrial carcinoma accounted for 3.1% (4/128).

Conclusion: This analysis of endometrial curetting specimens showed that retained products of conception were most common in premenopausal women while endometrial hyperplasia, occurred mainly in perimenopausal and postmenopausal age groups.