Comparative study of transvaginal sonography and hysteroscopy for the detection of pathologic endometrial lesions in women with postmenopausal bleeding.

Dilatation and curettage is used as the "gold standard" for diagnosing pathologic endometrial lesions in women with postmenopausal bleeding. In this group of women, about 10% have an endometrial cancer and an additional 20% have some other endometrial abnormality. However, some abnormalities, such as endometrial polyps and submucous fibroids, are difficult to diagnose by dilatation and curettage. In such cases, combining transvaginal sonography with hysteroscopy may be of value. This study compared the use of transvaginal sonography and hysteroscopy for evaluation of the uterine cavity in women with postmenopausal bleeding. The study included 51 women, 39 of whom had an abnormally thick ( > 4 mm) endometrium as measured by transvaginal sonography, and 35 of 39 had an abnormal appearance at hysteroscopy. The sensitivity and specificity for the measurement of endometrial thickness using transvaginal sonography to diagnose an endometrial abnormality were 100% and 75%, respectively. The corresponding figures for hysteroscopy were 97% and 88%. In all women with an endometrial thickness of 8 mm as measured by transvaginal sonography, hysteroscopy is identified as an abnormality. The study indicates that transvaginal sonography reveals an endometrial thickness of > or = 8 mm and the histopathologic diagnosis after dilatation and curettage is atrophic endometrial polyp or submucous myoma.     

Sonohysterography compared with endometrial biopsy for evaluation of the endometrium in tamoxifen-treated women.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to compare endometrial biopsy and sonohysterography for evaluation of the endometrium in tamoxifen-treated women. METHODS: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed to identify 51 consecutive tamoxifen-treated women who had sonohysterography and correlative endometrial biopsy for evaluation of postmenopausal bleeding or thickened endometrium of greater than 8 mm. Endometrial biopsy and sonohysterographic results were compared in all women, and for 27 (53%) women who had hysteroscopy with dilation and curettage, endometrial biopsy and sonohysterographic findings also were compared with surgical pathologic findings. RESULTS: Thirty-two (63%) of 51 sonohysterograms revealed endometrial polyps; 4 (8%) showed endometrium of greater than 5 mm; 14 (27%) showed endometrium of less than 5 mm; and 1 (2%) was inadequate. Endometrial biopsy findings were benign endometrium in 42 (82%), polyps in 4 (8%), and insufficient samples in 5 (10%). Among the adequate sonohysterograms, 64% (32 of 50) resulted in a diagnosis of polyps (95% confidence interval, 49%-77%) whereas the corresponding proportion for endometrial biopsy was 9% (4 of 46; 95% confidence interval, 2%-21%). For the group with hysteroscopy, 24 (92%) of 26 polyps were confirmed histopathologically; 1 polyp had complex hyperplasia. Polyps were present in 23 (89%) of 26 women with benign endometrium or insufficient samples by endometrial biopsy, and only 1 confirmed polyp was identified by endometrial biopsy. The sensitivity of sonohysterography for diagnosis of endometrial polyps (100%) was significantly higher than for endometrial biopsy (4%; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: In tamoxifen-treated women, sonohysterography provides a significant improvement in sensitivity for diagnosis of endometrial polyps compared with endometrial biopsy.     

Combination of endometrial thickness and time since menopause in predicting endometrial cancer in women with postmenopausal bleeding

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to assess the combination of endometrial thickness, as measured by transvaginal sonography, and time since menopause, in predicting the presence of endometrial cancer in women with postmenopausal bleeding. METHODS: The study group consisted of 95 women with postmenopausal bleeding who underwent sonographic measurement of endometrial thickness followed by endometrial biopsy. No patient had ever received hormone replacement therapy. RESULTS: The mean endometrial thickness was significantly lower in the absence of endometrial carcinoma (6.9 +/- 4.3 mm) than in its presence (13.5 +/- 7.7 mm) (p < 0.005). The incidence of endometrial carcinoma increased with increases in endometrial thickness and the number of years since menopause. No patient had carcinoma when the endometrium was less than 5 mm thick, but 18.5% did when the thickness exceeded 9 mm. The incidence of cancer was 2.6% in women who had undergone menopause less than 5 years earlier but was 21.4% in women who had undergone menopause more than 15 years prior. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that time since menopause and endometrial thickness were statistically significant predictors of endometrial carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Time since menopause and endometrial thickness together define cutoff points for the diagnostic biopsy of tissue samples for endometrial carcinoma; that is, within a particular time interval, sampling should not be performed if the thickness is below a given value. When using cutoff points of 6 mm of endometrial thickness for women experiencing menopause 5-15 years prior and 5 mm in those going through menopause 15 or more years prior, approximately 60% of invasive procedures may be avoided. In addition, models derived by multiple logistic regression can be used to calculate a patient's risk of cancer based on her age and endometrial thickness.     

阴道彩超与宫腔镜在围绝经期及绝经后期子宫出血中的应用分析

目的探讨阴道彩超与宫腔镜在围绝经期及绝经后期子宫出血中诊治的临床应用价值。方法回顾性分析2014年1月至2015年12月间收治的围绝经期及绝经后期子宫出血患者232例。所有患者完成阴道彩超检查和宫腔镜检查并取活检,并将检查结果与病理学诊断对照对比分析。结果宫腔镜对各个疾病诊断的阳性预测率和真阳性率(敏感度)均较阴道彩超高。其中宫腔镜对宫内膜增生、子宫内膜癌、子宫内膜炎诊断的阳性预测率、敏感度与阴道彩超比较,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。宫腔镜对子宫内膜息肉诊断的敏感度为87.8%,高于阴道彩超的60.6%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。宫腔镜对子宫内膜生理性改变的诊断中阳性预测率高于阴道彩超,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。阴道彩超显示,厚度为≥4~10mm组的子宫内膜癌检出率低于厚度10mm组,差异有统计学意义(χ~2=6.523,P=0.011)。子宫内膜厚度4mm组子宫内膜生理性改变的检出率高于厚度≥4~10mm和厚度10mm组,差异有统计学意义(χ~2=6.116,P=0.013和χ~2=22.428,P=0.001)。子宫内膜生理性改变≤10mm组中的检出率高于厚度10mm组,差异有统计学意义(χ~2=9.13,P=0.003)。结论围绝经期及绝经后期子宫出血可采用阴道彩超常规筛查,宫腔镜较阴道彩超在明确诊断上更有优势,值得临床推广。     

Postmenopausal bleeding should be referred urgently

Postmenopausal bleeding is an episode of bleeding 12 months or more after the last menstrual period. It occurs in up to 10% of women aged over 55 years. All women with postmenopausal bleeding should be referred urgently. Endometrial cancer is present in around 10% of patients; most bleeding has a benign cause. The peak incidence for endometrial carcinoma is between 65 and 75 years of age. Causes of postmenopausal bleeding include: endometrial carcinoma; cervical carcinoma; vaginal atrophy; endometrial hyperplasia +/- polyp; cervical polyps; hormone-producing ovarian tumours; haematuria and rectal bleeding. The aim of assessment and investigation of postmenopausal bleeding is to identify a cause and exclude cancer. Assessment should start by taking a detailed history, with identification of risk factors for endometrial cancer, as well as a medication history covering use of HRT, tamoxifen and anticoagulants. Abdominal and pelvic examinations should be carried out to look for masses. Speculum examination should be performed to see if a source of bleeding can be identified, assess atrophic changes in the vagina and look for evidence of cervical malignancy or polyps. Ultrasound scan and endometrial biopsy are complementary. Ultrasound scan can define endometrial thickness and identify structural abnormalities of the uterus, endometrium and ovaries. Endometrial biopsy provides a histological diagnosis. The measurement of endometrial thickness aims to identify which women with postmenopausal bleeding are at significant risk of endometrial cancer. If the examination is normal, the bleeding has stopped and the endometrial thickness is < 5 mm on transvaginal ultrasound scan, no further action need be taken.     

宫腔镜应用于绝经后子宫内膜病变的临床诊断价值

目的探讨宫腔镜应用于绝经后子宫内膜病变诊断的临床价值。方法选取2016年4月-2018年4月该院100例绝经后子宫内膜病变患者,根据随机数字法,将其分为对照组(诊断性刮宫)和观察组(宫腔镜),每组各50例,比较两组患者子宫腔病变检出率,以及诊断各种子宫内膜病变的敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值和阴性预测值。结果观察组子宫内膜病变检出率明显高于对照组(P 0.05);观察组患者子宫内膜息肉、子宫黏膜下肌瘤检出率明显高于对照组(P 0.05);观察组患者子宫内膜息肉、子宫黏膜下肌瘤、子宫内膜增生和子宫内膜癌等病变诊断的敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值和阴性预测值均高于对照组。结论宫腔镜能够有效、准确地诊断绝经后子宫内膜病变,其简单、快速、损伤小,值得临床推广。     

Endometrial thickness and histological abnormalities in women on hormonal replacement therapy: a transvaginal ultrasound/hysteroscopic study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess if endometrial thickness could be used to select postmenopausal women on hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) at increased risk for endometrial abnormalities. The secondary aim was to assess if endometrial abnormalities were more likely to occur in patients with increased endometrial thickness or in patients with unexpected bleeding. METHODS: Bi-endometrial thickness was measured by transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) in postmenopausal patients on sequential or combined HRT regimens. Women following a sequential regimen underwent TVS examination immediately after their withdrawal bleed, always between 5 and 10 days after the last progesterone tablet. A hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy was performed within 5 days after the TVS examination, when endometrial thickness was > or = 4 mm, or when unscheduled bleeding was observed. RESULTS: A total of 190 women were recruited. In 138 women on sequential regimens, the mean value of endometrial thickness was 3.6 mm +/- 1.5, and in 52 women on combined regimens it was 3.2 mm +/- 1.8 (P = n.s.) Twenty-eight patients (15%) had an endometrial thickness > 4 mm, 35 patients (18.4%) reported unexpected bleeding. The percentage of abnormal endometrial findings (9%; three of 35) in patients selected for unscheduled bleeding was significantly lower than the percentage of abnormal findings in patients selected for hysteroscopy for endometrial thickness > 4 mm (36%; 10 of 28) (P < 0.01). All patients with unexpected bleeding and endometrial thickness < or = 4 mm (24 cases) were found to have an atrophic endometrium. CONCLUSIONS: Endometrial thickness in patients on sequential HRT, measured soon after withdrawal bleeding, is not significantly different from thickness measured in patients on combined HRT. Patients on HRT with an endometrial thickness of > 4 mm could be considered for histological sampling. The prevalence of abnormal endometrial findings in patients with a thick endometrium is significantly higher than the prevalence observed in patients with unexpected bleeding.     

Vaginal ultrasonography in patients with postmenopausal bleeding.

Our objective was to define a subset of women with postmenopausal bleeding in whom the accepted practice of endometrial sampling could be safely omitted. Vaginal endosonographic measurements were compared to the histological findings of curettings following diagnostic dilatation and curettage in 129 women with post-menopausal bleeding who were not receiving hormonal therapy. Atrophy was diagnosed in 49%, slight proliferation in 10%, endometrial polyps in 11%, hypoplasia in 12%, and adenocarcinoma in 12%. Endometrial atrophy was associated with a mean sonographic thickness of 2.6 mm of the double layer (range 0-6.5 mm). Of the women with a final histological diagnosis of atrophy, 92% had an endometrial thickness of 3 mm or less. Furthermore, all women with a sonographic endometrial thickness of 3 mm or less had atrophic endometrium (p < 0.0001). An endometrial thickness of 3 mm or less would have reduced the number of dilation and curettage procedures by 45% and no cases of endometrial pathologies would have been missed. In women presenting with postmenstrual bleeding, meticulous scanning of the endometrium can select a group where endometrial sampling can be omitted from the protocol.     

宫腔镜及三维超声造影对子宫内膜器质性病变的诊断价值

目的评价宫腔镜及三维超声宫腔造影检查方法对子宫内膜器质性病变的诊断价值.方法回顾性分析54例子宫不正常出血的病人,应用经阴道三维超声宫腔内注液后扫查,再行宫腔镜检查,以病理结果为确诊依据对照不同检查结果间的差异.结果 23例诊断为子宫内膜息肉,15例诊断为黏膜下肌瘤,6例诊断为子宫内膜癌,10例诊断为子宫内膜增殖症.宫腔镜检查敏感度100%,特异度98.1%.三维超声造影检查敏感度为100%,特异度94.4%.结论宫腔镜为诊断子宫内膜占位病变的首选方法,结合三维超声宫腔造影,对确定治疗方案有很大辅助作用.     

Echogenic endometrial fluid collection in postmenopausal women is a significant risk factor for disease.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess postmenopausal women with endometrial fluid collection and the risk of significant endometrial or cervical disease. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 343 postmenopausal women with endometrial fluid collection on pelvic sonography. Medical records were reviewed to identify women who underwent an evaluation of the endometrium with endometrial biopsy, hysteroscopy, or hysterectomy after the sonographic examination. Clinical and sonographic characteristics were compared between women with diagnoses of cervical or endometrial cancer or hyperplasia (nonbenign group) and women with benign conditions (benign group). RESULTS: The endometrium was significantly thicker in the nonbenign group compared with the benign group (mean +/- SD, 9.9 +/- 7.4 versus 5.9 +/- 4.1 mm; P = .016). None of the patients with adenocarcinoma of the endometrium had endometrial thickness of 3 mm or less, but 2 with endocervical cancer did. Echogenic fluid in the endometrial cavity was significantly more likely to be found in the nonbenign group compared with the benign group (45.8% versus 4.8%; P < .01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that echogenic fluid in the endometrial cavity was the only significant risk factor for nonbenign conditions (odds ratio, 10.94; 95% confidence interval, 2.67-44.84; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Postmenopausal women with endometrial fluid collection on sonography should undergo endometrial sampling if the endometrial lining is thicker than 3 mm or the endometrial fluid is echogenic. If the lining is 3 mm or less and the endometrial fluid is clear, endometrial sampling is not necessary, but we recommend endocervical sampling to rule out endocervical cancer.     

Transvaginal hysterosonography: comparison with biopsy in the evaluation of postmenopausal bleeding.

Transvaginal sonography is a highly sensitive method for detecting endometrial thickening. In the postmenopausal woman such thickening is non-specific and can be due to hyperplasia, polyps, submucosal endoluminal fibroids, or carcinoma. In such cases, transvaginal sonography combined with transvaginal hysterosonography may assist in the workup of these endometrial processes. We compared the combination of transvaginal sonography and transvaginal hysterosonography to aspiration endometrial biopsy in the evaluation of women with postmenopausal bleeding. We prospectively performed transvaginal sonography in 148 women within 1 month (range, 10 days to 2 months) after having had an aspiration endometrial biopsy. Transvaginal hysterosonography was then performed in 81 of these women who had endometrial thickness greater than 5 mm. In these 81 patients, transvaginal hysterosonography confirmed 45 lesions: 23 pedunculated endometrial masses and 22 inhomogeneous sessile lesions. Women with positive transvaginal hysterosonography examinations then underwent hysteroscopy or hysterectomy, whereas women with negative examinations were followed conservatively. Forty-one of the 45 cases with endoluminal masses on transvaginal hysterosonography had false-negative aspiration biopsies. Of the five (11%) lesions that were malignant, three resulted in false-negative biopsies, one biopsy revealed hyperplasia, and only one biopsy was true positive. All 36 women with negative transvaginal hysterosonography examinations also had negative biopsy findings. We conclude that the combination of transvaginal sonography and transvaginal hysterosonography is more sensitive in the detection of endometrial pathologic lesions than is endometrial biopsy, and that transvaginal sonography or transvaginal hysterosonography should be included in the evaluation of women with postmenopausal bleeding.     

Ambulatory hysteroscopy in evaluation of postmenopausal bleeding]

INTRODUCTION: Diagnostic hysteroscopy is the most precise procedure to evaluate diseases involving the uterine cavity. There is, however, only limited data concerning the use of hysteroscopy carried out as an outpatient procedure in patients with postmenopausal bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study we report on 360 postmenopausal patients with erratic bleeding, who were referred to our outpatient hysteroscopy clinic. 185 women had frank postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) and another 175 had abnormal uterine bleeding while taking hormone replacement therapy (AUB). The mean age was 57.9 years (range: 42-86). All hysteroscopies were performed using a standard 5-mm hysteroscope with a 30 degrees fore-oblique lens; the uterine cavity was generally distended with normal saline. RESULTS: Outpatient hysteroscopy was performed successfully in 339 patients (94.2%). In 166 cases (46.1%) cervical dilatation was necessary, and 138 required (38.3%) intracervical anaesthesia. Intrauterine pathology was diagnosed in 49.6% of cases, with endometrial polyps (20.9%) and fibroids (15.9%) being the most common abnormalities. While there was no difference in the incidence of intrauterine lesions between patients with AUB and those with PMB, endometrial carcinoma was more common in the latter group (PMB: n = 11 vs. AUB: n = 1; p < 0.002). CONCLUSION: Due to its high accuracy and patient acceptance, outpatient diagnostic hysteroscopy should become a first line investigation in postmenopausal patients with bleeding disorders.     

经阴道超声测量对绝经后子宫内膜癌的诊断价值

目的:评价经阴道超声测量对绝经后子宫内膜癌的诊断价值。方法:选择因经阴道超声提示宫腔占位行宫腔镜检查术绝经后妇女520例,分析绝经后子宫内膜癌患者的相关特征。以病理诊断结果为金标准,评价经阴道超声和宫腔镜诊断子宫内膜癌的灵敏度和特异度。以ROC曲线下面积确定经阴道超声测量宫腔占位大小诊断绝经后子宫内膜癌的最佳临界值。结果:绝经后阴道流血(postmenopausal bleeding,PMB)、宫腔占位大及宫腔积液多与绝经后子宫内膜癌相关,而年龄、绝经年龄、绝经时间、内膜厚度与绝经后子宫内膜癌无关。伴PMB妇女的子宫内膜癌发生率是无PMB妇女的6.4倍。宫腔镜诊断绝经后子宫内膜癌的准确性高于经阴道超声。超声测量宫腔占位大小诊断无PMB子宫内膜癌的最佳临界值为14.5mm,此时阳性预测值为10.75%、阴性预测值为99.14%。超声测量宫腔占位大小诊断伴PMB绝经后子宫内膜癌的最佳临界值为18.5mm,此时阳性预测值为55.56%、阴性预测值为91.94%。结论:对于无PMB的妇女,经阴道超声测量宫腔占位大于14.5mm作为行宫腔镜检查的指征较合理;而对于经阴道超声发现宫腔占位且伴PMB的妇女,子宫内膜癌发生率较高,建议均行宫腔镜检查。     

How thick is too thick? When endometrial thickness should prompt biopsy in postmenopausal women without vaginal bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: Transvaginal sonography (TVS) is routinely performed as part of a pelvic sonogram in postmenopausal women, and images of the endometrium are frequently obtained. In women without vaginal bleeding, the threshold separating normal from abnormally thickened endometrium is not known. The aim of this study was to determine an endometrial thickness threshold that should prompt biopsy in a postmenopausal woman without vaginal bleeding. METHODS: This was a theoretical cohort of postmenopausal women aged 50 years and older who were not receiving hormone therapy. We determined the risk of cancer for a postmenopausal woman with vaginal bleeding when the endometrial thickness measures > 5 mm, and then determined the endometrial thickness in a woman without vaginal bleeding that would be associated with the same risk of cancer. We used published and unpublished data to determine the sensitivity and specificity of TVS, the incidence of endometrial cancer, the percentage of women symptomatic with vaginal bleeding, and the percentage of cancer that occurs in women without vaginal bleeding. Ranges for each estimate were included in a sensitivity analysis to determine the impact of each estimate on the overall results. RESULTS: In a postmenopausal woman with vaginal bleeding, the risk of cancer is approximately 7.3% if her endometrium is thick (> 5 mm) and < 0.07% if her endometrium is thin (< or = 5 mm). An 11-mm threshold yields a similar separation between those who are at high risk and those who are at low risk for endometrial cancer. In postmenopausal women without vaginal bleeding, the risk of cancer is approximately 6.7% if the endometrium is thick (> 11 mm) and 0.002% if the endometrium is thin (< or = 11 mm). The estimated risk of cancer was sensitive to the percentage of cancer cases that were estimated to occur in women without vaginal bleeding. For the base case we estimated that 15% of cancers occur in women without vaginal bleeding. When we changed the estimate to project that only 5% of cancers occur in women without vaginal bleeding, the projected risk of cancer with a thick measurement was only 2.2%, whereas when we estimated that 20% of endometrial cancers occur in women without bleeding, the projected risk of cancer with a thick measurement was 8.9%. As a woman's age increases, her risk of cancer increases at each endometrial thickness measurement. For example, using the 11 mm threshold, the risk of cancer associated with a thick endometrium increases from 4.1% at age 50 years to 9.3% at age 79 years. Varying the other estimates used in the decision analysis within plausible ranges had no substantial effect on the results. CONCLUSIONS: In a postmenopausal woman without vaginal bleeding, if the endometrium measures > 11 mm a biopsy should be considered as the risk of cancer is 6.7%, whereas if the endometrium measures < or = 11 mm a biopsy is not needed as the risk of cancer is extremely low.     

经阴道超声与宫腔镜检查诊断绝经后服用他莫昔芬妇女子宫内膜病变的比较

目的 该研究比较了经阴道超声（transvaginal ultrasonography,TVS）与宫腔镜检查（hysteroscopy,HS）在诊断绝经后服用他莫昔芬（tamoxifen,TAM）对子宫内膜病变的价值,以探讨与其相关的监测方法.方法 随诊了46例绝经后因乳腺癌服用TAM（20mg/d）超过6个月的妇女.所有患者均施行了TVS、HS以及内膜组织病理学检查.TVS以子宫内膜厚度≥5mm为阳性判断标准.结果 TVS检查结果阳性21例（45.7%）中,经HS及病理诊断证实内膜息肉14例,单纯增殖型内膜2例,萎缩型内膜5例;TVS检查结果阴性25例（54.3%）中,内膜息肉8例,单纯增殖型内膜3例,萎缩型内膜14例.TVS检查的特异性为70.8%,敏感性为63.6%,阳性预测值为66.7%,阴性预测值为68.0%.而HS分别为100%、96.0%、95.7%和95.7%.息肉病人的TVS结果与非息肉病人比较差异有显著性（P=0.019）.结论 由于TAM对绝经后的子宫内膜具有雌激素样作用,能够引起内膜基质水肿,产生类似增生内膜的超声影像,导致TVS的检查结果与HS下所见以及内膜病检不相符.服用TAM的绝经后乳腺癌患者,单纯以TVS作为其内膜病变的筛选方法具有一定诊断价值,但存在较高的假阳性率且特异性较差.在确诊子宫内膜息肉方面HS具有特殊优势.     

Comparison of transvaginal ultrasonography and saline infusion sonography for the detection of intracavitary abnormalities in premenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal sonography (TVS) and saline infusion sonography (SIS) for detecting intracavitary abnormalities in premenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding. METHOD: Consecutive premenopausal women who underwent hysterectomy for abnormal uterine bleeding were included. All women underwent TVS and SIS before their hysterectomy. The findings at TVS and SIS were compared with the findings of the hysterectomy specimen. Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios were calculated. RESULTS: The results of 50 patients with abnormal uterine bleeding were evaluated. Histological examination revealed normal endometrial histology in 27 patients, submucous myomas in 13 patients and intracavitary polyps in 10 patients. The sensitivity of TVS in directly visualizing intracavitary abnormalities was 61% for a specificity of 96%. The likelihood ratio of presence of an intracavitary abnormality was 16 and the likelihood ratio of absence of such a finding was 0.41. When defining abnormality at TVS as direct visualization of an intracavitary abnormality or an increased endometrial thickness (cut-off level 5 mm), the sensitivity of TVS was 87% for a specificity of 56%, with corresponding likelihood ratios of 2 and 0.23, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of SIS was 100% and 85% with likelihood ratios of 6 and 0.0, respectively. No intracavitary abnormality was missed by SIS. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic accuracy of SIS is higher than the accuracy of TVS. A combined approach using endometrial thickness measurement by TVS and, reserving SIS for patients with increased (> 5 mm) endometrial thickness, or endometrium inadequately visualized on TVS, is the optimal method of reducing the hysteroscopy rate.     

子宫内膜癌合并子宫肌瘤或（和）子宫肌腺瘤16例临床分析

目的探讨子宫内膜癌合并子宫肌瘤或（和）子宫肌腺瘤的临床表现及诊断方法。方法回顾性分析2003～2007年收治的16例子宫内膜癌合并子宫肌瘤或（和）子宫肌腺瘤患者的病史、临床表现及诊治经过。结果16例患者平均年龄53．93岁（45～80岁），其中围绝经期妇女8例（50．00%），绝经期妇女8例（50．00%）。13例（81．25％）有异常阴道流血并术前确诊；3例合并子宫肌腺瘤患者无异常阴道流血，仅表现下腹部疼痛性质改变，术前漏诊子宫内膜癌。结论围绝经期及绝经期子宫肌瘤或（和）子宫肌腺瘤患者有异常阴道流血者首先要除外子宫内膜癌，对合并子宫肌腺瘤患者即使没有异常阴道流血，但若下腹部疼痛性质改变，要高度警觉发生子宫内膜癌可能。     

Rebleeding and endometrial growth in women with postmenopausal bleeding and endometrial thickness < 5 mm managed by dilatation and curettage or ultrasound follow-up: a randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency of rebleeding and endometrial growth during a 12-month follow-up period between women with postmenopausal bleeding and an endometrial thickness < 5 mm managed by dilatation and curettage, and those managed by ultrasound follow-up. DESIGN: Consecutive women with postmenopausal bleeding and an endometrial thickness < 5 mm were randomized to ultrasound follow-up after 3, 6, and 12 months (n = 48) or to primary dilatation and curettage with ultrasound follow-up at 12 months (n = 49). At all follow-up examinations, the endometrial thickness was measured and the women were asked about rebleeding. The endometrium was sampled at the 12-month examination, if sampling had not been performed previously because of rebleeding or endometrial growth. RESULTS: Rebleeding was reported by 33% (16/48) of the women in the ultrasound group and by 21% (10/48) of those in the dilatation and curettage group (P = 0.17). Endometrial growth to >or= 5 mm was found in 21% (10/48) of the women in the ultrasound group and in 10% (5/48) of those in the dilatation and curettage group (P = 0.16). No endometrial pathology was found in women with isolated rebleeding. Endometrial pathology during follow-up was found more often in women with endometrial growth than in those without (33% vs. 4%; P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Rebleeding and endometrial growth are common during a follow-up period of 12 months in women with postmenopausal bleeding and an endometrial thickness < 5 mm, irrespective of whether or not dilatation and curettage is primarily carried out. If these women are managed by ultrasound follow-up, endometrial sampling should be performed if the endometrium grows, but not necessarily in the case of rebleeding without endometrial growth.     

Color Doppler sonography of endometrial masses.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the color Doppler sonographic features of endometrial masses with histologic characteristics and microvessel density. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 10 postmenopausal and 5 premenopausal women with abnormal bleeding who had color Doppler sonography and histologic studies of endometrial masses. RESULTS: Endometrial masses that contained multiple branches on color Doppler sonography were more likely carcinomas, even though both polyps and carcinomas were vascular on color Doppler sonography and their microvessel densities were similar. On color Doppler sonography, polyps averaged 1.2 detectable vessels versus 3.4 for carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: Color Doppler sonography may be useful in distinguishing carcinomas from polyps in women with thickened endometria.     

宫腔镜检查在异常子宫出血中的应用价值

目的探讨宫腔镜检查在异常子宫出血（abnormal uterine bleeding，AUB）中的应用价值。方法对398例AUB患者进行宫腔镜检查，将发现的子宫内膜病变类型按不同年龄进行分组比较。结果萎缩性子宫内膜、子宫内膜癌、子宫内膜炎是绝经后出血的常见原因，而子宫内膜息肉及子宫内膜腺囊性增生过长是育龄期和围绝经期异常子宫出血的主要原因。结论宫腔镜检查对AUB的病因诊断具有重要价值，各个年龄阶段的AUB患者首选宫腔镜检查及定位取检是很有益处的。