Biopsy Insufficent but polyp found

Failed endometrial biopsies seem to be really common. Mine failed, also because of cervical stenosis, so I had a D&C a month later, which succeeded. What did they have to say about the polyp fragments? Is there a plan for what's next?

Hysteroscopy, D&C and Polypectomy in Mid October. I hate the wait. I'm just really worried what will be found with a lining of 31mm. I've been bleeding for 7 weeks straight with large clots, back pain, abdominal swelling, fullness and cramping.

@mmd226 I can relate as I had to wait about a month for the D&C and hysteroscopy. The waiting was awful. Since you started your Discussion in the Gynecological Cancers Support Group I'm thinking you are worried that there is cancer. There are other possible diagnoses and reasons for the thickening of your uterine lining and symptoms but I understand how your mind goes to cancer. Any time tissue is removed it is sent to pathology. Do you have the pathology report on the polyp fragment specimen or are you still waiting for it?

There was no pathology done on the fragment as far as I know. It just said Endometrial Polyp fragments present. The doctor didn't think he initially even got anything when he attempted to biopsy a few days ago, but the report came back as the polyp fragments. We were going to repeat EMB next week with cytotec, but he said cancel that and let's go straight to surgery.
Yes, I am very worried about cancer due to the TVUS report of 31mm lining and heterogenity present. It said to try hystersonogram to evaluate for polyp or endometrial hyperplasia, but the doctor wanted to do EMB. . I am a mother to 4 girls and I'm only 41..oh and a nurse so of course I know what I'm reading on these reports which makes it more difficult to not have anxiety about the situation. I'm trying to advocate, but not seem annoying to doctors. 🙁

Oh, boy, @mmd226… I’m sorry you’re in limbo on this. And, sigh, I’m sorry that any of us are in a position of feeling as if we have to figure out what constitutes “being nice; not irritating” in order to hope that our needs for health care will be responded to with the level of urgency that we are feeling when we are facing a situation with potential implications for our survival. It’s just added stress to the rest of it. When I had a biopsy, at least a sample of a very tiny polyp fragment was frozen and stored as a matter of procedure. I didn’t have to ask for it. If my cancer recurs, I will be going back to ask that those fragments be gene tested in order to guide any treatment going forward, as I understand that they are held for ~5 years. I’m not sure if you’ve asked for your sample to be tested further. Either way, I am thinking of you and hoping you get clear information soon and that cancer is NOT part of this picture.

D&C, Hysteroscopy and Polypectomy was completed end of last week. Report came in my health portal and just says endometrial currettings: Polyp fragment and Background Secretory Endometrium. The doctor told my husband my uterus was riddled with polyps after surgery, he was very surprised and they looked angry. Should there be more to a report? This just seems very generic to me and I haven't learned anything new based on the surgery.

I had the same procedure done and my report came back with Complex hyperplasia with atypia, focally present within a polyp. I think your diagnosis is common in a woman of childbearing age. But, I know you will feel so much better once you are able to talk with your doctor. This waiting that we all have to do these days is unacceptable in my opinion. I am 67 yo and will be having a hysterectomy on 11/1. I won't know until a week or 2 later if I have cancer that has spread or if it was contained. I had my pre-op yesterday with my GP and he even said that he is surprised by how long things take to happen in the medical field now. @mmd226 ... stay positive!

Here in Portland, Oregon, the hospitals themselves are unhealthy. They are financially unsound and chronically short-staffed. So everything takes longer to schedule. I wish you good luck with your hysterectomy.

@mmd226 I’m wondering what you mean that « they » looked angry. The doctor? The polyps?

In reference to the report in your portal, did the report come from pathology and was it signed off by a pathologist (doctor)? If yes, then when you talk with your doctor here are the questions to ask:

1. Were the polyps and endometrium « stepped through »? That term, stepped through, means that the tissue was sliced and examined throughout the tissue. My partner is a pathologist and he walked me through the procedures that should be used when tissue is received in the lab for pathology.

2. You are asking that the tissue that was removed be examined, under microscope, beyond the rather cursory look at the surface of the tissue.

When do you see your doctor again?

The doctor told my husband the polyps looked angry, he told me hypervascular on the phone but I'm a nurse. He was using lay terms with my husband.
I spoke with my doctor last week via phone and he said he was actually very surprised to call me with good news because he had never seen a uterus with as many polyps as I had and he was actually very concerned. I barely bled after the procedure. He basically told me I could cancel my follow-up since I was not having any issues and to continue to take my birth control to keep lining thin and call with any problems. I did talk to my regular PCP and she did order a repeat TVUS in December just to check the lining again.
The report did say Microscopic Description: The final diagnosis of each specimen incoporates the microscopic examination findings, so I am assuming that means the step through you are mentioning.