Origin of carcinoma in secretory endometrium--a study using a whole-organ sectioning technique.

Uteri from four patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma and concomitant "functioning" endometrium were examined by a whole-organ sectioning technique. All showed one or several "progesterone-refractory" mucosal areas or polyps, mainly in the tubal recesses. In one patient the adenocarcinoma obviously originated in a fundal polyp, and in the others the tumors could have arisen in mucosal areas not adequately responding to progesterone. These findings do not in fact contradict the "unopposed estrogen" theory of the genesis of endometrial carcinoma.