Objective: To determine the percentage of endometrial hyperplasia positive for p53 expression in both spontaneously occurring cases or following the use of unopposed estradiol.
Methods: Fifty-four postmenopausal patients with endometrial hyperplasia diagnosed by endometrial biopsy and hysteroscopy were recruited to this study. Thirty-three patients had used unopposed estradiol for periods of time from 1 to 3 years. P53 expression was detected in paraffin-embedded endometrial specimens by immunohistochemical methods.
Results: The percentage of endometrial hyperplasia positive for p53 expression was significantly greater in spontaneously occurring hyperplasia than in cases induced by the unopposed use of estradiol.
Conclusion: Endometrial hyperplasia caused by the unopposed use of estradiol during menopause probably harbors fewer genomic errors than those cases occurring spontaneously.