Publication:

Synergistic approach in diagnosing endometrial disease in women with postmenopausal bleeding

Background All women with postmenopausal uterine bleeding mandate examination for endometrial diseases especially endometrial carcinoma. In current scenario, hysteroscopy has replaced traditional Dilatation and Curettage as diagnostic procedure of choice. However, office endometrial sampling with pipelle combined with vaginal ultrasonography being easier and less expensive is recommended. Aim and objectives of the study was to evaluate the combined use of vaginal ultrasonography and office endometrial sampling for the diagnosis of endometrial disease in postmenopausal women with uterine bleeding.

Methods One hundred consecutive postmenopausal women presenting with uterine bleeding were enrolled in the study. Vaginal ultrasonography was used to measure the endometrial thickness. Endometrial sampling was done using endometrial biopsy pipelle, as office procedure, in the OPD examination room. The sample was sent for Histopathological Examination (HPE), The accuracy of vaginal ultrasound and pipelle was measured.

Results In 21% patients, endometrial carcinoma was found, endometrial hyperplasia in 26%, atrophic endometrium in 18%, endometrial polyp in 10% and no specific pathology in 20%. Endometrial thickness measured by Transvaginal ultrasound ranged from 1mm to 28mm with mean of 10.16mm and median of 11.5mm. The mean endometrial thickness in subgroup without disease was 5.26±3.8mm, with benign disease 12.8±3.1mm and in carcinoma 16.97±5.6mm. All cases with carcinoma had endometrial thickness exceeding 5mm (range 5.7mm to 28mm).

Conclusions The study illustrates that by combined use of Trans Vaginal Sonography (TVS) and office endometrial sampling, sufficient diagnostic information was obtained for women with postmenopausal bleeding, obviating the need for more invasive diagnostic procedures.