Risk of finding an endometrial cancer when atypical hyperplasia was incidentally diagnosed on hysteroscopic resection products

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of discovering an endometrial cancer when atypical hyperplasia was diagnosed by histologic examination of hysteroscopic resection products. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective monocentric study from January 1994 to January 2001. Seventeen patients with atypical hyperplasia were included. Initial endometrial status was provided by operative hysteroscopy resection products. For all patients, there was no hysteroscopical aspect evocative of adenocarcinoma. Histopathological analysis of the hysterectomy pieces precised the final diagnosis. RESULTS: Among the 17 hysterectomy pieces, one adenocarcinoma was diagnosed. Risk for discovering adenocarcinoma when atypical hyperplasia was diagnosed by operative hysteroscopy resection products was 5.9% (1/17). CONCLUSION: Risk of omitting adenocarcinoma when atypical hyperplasia is discovered by hysteroscopy resection pieces is low.     

Hysteroscopic findings of endometrial carcinoma. Evaluation of 104 cases

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: Retrospective evaluation of hysteroscopic findings in the accurate diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective monocentric study from January 1995 to December 2004. One hundred and four patients with hysteroscopic aspects evocative of endometrial carcinoma confirmed by endometrial biopsy during diagnostic hysteroscopy, by surgical hysteroscopic resection pieces or by hysterectomy specimen were included. RESULTS: Among the 104 patients, diagnostic hysteroscopy pointed out endometrial features suggestive of endometrial carcinoma in 102 cases. In two women diagnostic hysteroscopy failed to diagnose endometrial malignancy which was identified on pieces of polyps by surgical hysteroscopic resection. DISCUSSION: Polypoid proliferations cerebroid in appearance, with ulceration and necrosis, friable and with irregular vessels, represent endometrial findings highly indicative of malignancy. The diagnosis may be missed in cases of focal neoplasias, within endometrial polyps or in conditions of unsatisfactory endouterine visualization.     

Hysteroscopic view in atypical endometrial hyperplasias: A correlation with pathologic findings on hysterectomy specimens

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether hysteroscopic imaging can contribute to decrease the rate of undetected endometrial carcinomas concurrent with atypical hyperplasia diagnosed by endometrial biopsy. DESIGN: Retrospective study. DESIGN CLASSIFICATION: Canadian Task Force Classification II-3. SETTING: Public hospital. PATIENTS: Hysteroscopic reports of 25 menopausal patients undergoing endometrial biopsy yielding a diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia were reviewed. On the basis of this diagnosis, all patients were treated by hysterectomy, and the pathologic findings on the uterine specimen were correlated with the diagnoses obtained by hysteroscopic view. INTERVENTIONS: Hysteroscopy was video-assisted and carried out with normal saline solution used as liquid distension medium; a 5-mm sheathed hysteroscope, with a working channel, was used for each examination. After hysteroscopic inspection, an endometrial sampling targeted under vision was performed by mechanical or electrosurgical instrumentation. When extensive features of hyperplastic or neoplastic growth were observed, we combined a blind sampling procedure with Vabra-curettage. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values of hysteroscopic inspection to foresee the diagnosis of endometrial cancer incidentally detected on hysterectomy specimen. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: On the basis of histopathologic study of uterine specimens, non atypical hyperplasias were detected in 3 patients, the diagnosis of complex atypical hyperplasia was confirmed in 11 patients, whereas a concurrent infiltrating endometrial adenocarcinoma was detected in 11 patients (44.0%). In the 14 patients with diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia, no feature suggesting endometrial malignancy was reported by hysteroscopic inspection. In the 11 cases showing infiltrating carcinomas, hysteroscopic view was consistent with endometrial malignancy in 9 patients and with endometrial hyperplasia in 2 patients. An intramucous endometrial carcinoma without evidence of myometrial invasion was found on hysterectomy specimens of these two latter patients. From these figures, sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values of hysteroscopy to foresee a diagnosis of infiltrating carcinoma were 84.6%, 100%, 87.5%, and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Hysteroscopic view is a sensitive and specific method to identify among patients with a diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia on endometrial biopsy those with a coexisting infiltrating carcinoma.     

行宫腔镜手术发生严重并发症35例临床分析

目的：探讨行宫腔镜检查和宫腔镜电切术发生严重并发症的早期诊断,治疗及预防。方法：对12921例患者行宫腔镜检查,同时行B超扫描;对2221例患行宫腔镜电切术,同时行B超或腹腔镜监护,结果：发生严重并发症35例,其中出血9例,经宫腔球囊置入、电凝、填塞或子宫体切除治愈;子宫穿孔11例,经保守治疗、腹腔镜或子宫切除治愈,空气栓塞1例,经抢救存活,术后感染4例,经抗生素治疗治愈,尿道电切前列腺（TURP）综合征5例,经利尿及静脉输注盐水治愈,子宫内膜去除－输卵管绝育术后综合征（PASS）4例,经扩宫、排出积血,行宫腔粘连或子宫切除治愈,术后8年发生子宫内膜癌1例,再次手术治疗,结论：行宫腔镜检查,以球囊压迫宫腔可有效控制出血,应注意B超腹腔镜监护不能完全防止子宫穿孔,控制灌流液压和手术时间,可减少TURP综合征的发生。行宫腔镜电切术后应加强随访,早期发现PASS和子宫内膜癌,避免空气栓塞的发生。     

¿Hiperplasia endometrial atípica o adenocarcinoma de endometrio? Un reto

Objective

To determine the prevalence of endometrial adenocarcinoma in patients with a diagnosis of atypical endometrial hyperplasia after endometrial biopsy.

Patients and methods

Twenty patients with a diagnosis of atypical endometrial hyperplasia after endometrial biopsy by means of office hysteroscopy and/or after endometrial resection by means of operative hysteroscopy.

Results

Hysterectomy was performed in 15 patients and eight cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma were found. Reintervention was required in two patients, who underwent laparoscopic lymphadenectomy.     

Hysteroscopic evaluation of endometrial polyps.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the validity of hysteroscopy for predicting cancer in endometrial polyps based on their number, size and hysteroscopic appearance. METHOD: Retrospective observational study of 653 women diagnosed hysteroscopically as having endometrial polyps. After outpatient or surgical hysteroscopic resection or resection following hysterectomy, the diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination. The incidence of cancer in women who had polyps was determined in the light of menopausal status, symptoms, size, number and appearance of the polyps. RESULT: Carcinoma was found in only 3.9% of the women who consulted for menopausal metrorrhagia and were diagnosed as having a polyp. Hysteroscopy had a sensitivity of 36% and a specificity of 98% for a diagnosis of cancerous polyp or atypical hyperplasia. CONCLUSION: The appearance and number of endometrial polyps seen by hysteroscopy may be useful in predicting cancer in the polyps, although resection and histological examination will still be necessary to confirm the diagnosis.     

Resectoscopic surgery may be an alternative to hysterectomy in high-risk women with atypical endometrial hyperplasia

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Endometrial hyperplasia is found in 2% to 10% of women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). Up to 43% of patients with cytologic atypia harbor coexisting adenocarcinoma, and approximately 20% to 52% of atypical hyperplasias, if untreated, progress to cancer. The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of atypical endometrial hyperplasia encountered during routine resectoscopic surgery in women with AUB and to evaluate the role of resectoscopic surgery in the management of women with AUB and atypical endometrial hyperplasia who refused and/or were at high risk for hysterectomy. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). SETTING: University-affiliated teaching hospital. PATIENTS: From January 1990 through December 2005, the senior author (GAV) performed primary resectoscopic surgery in 3401 women with AUB. Among these, there were 22 women with atypical (17 complex, 5 simple) endometrial hyperplasia. INTERVENTIONS: All women underwent hysteroscopic evaluation and partial (n = 3) or complete (n = 19) endometrial electrocoagulation and/or resection. Subsequently, 6 women had hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The median (range) for age, parity, and body mass index were 55 years (24-78 years), 2 (0-4), and 30.1 kg/m2 (22.5-52.2 kg/m2), respectively. Among the 3401 women, there were 22 cases of atypical endometrial hyperplasia, 12 of which were incidentally diagnosed at the time of hysteroscopy (complex 10, simple 2, incidence 0.35%). After hysteroscopic diagnosis or confirmation of diagnosis, 6 women underwent hysterectomy and BSO. Of the remaining 16 women, followed for a median of 5 years (range 1.5-12 years), 1 was lost to follow-up, 1 had only a biopsy to preserve fertility, 1 died from lung cancer after 4 years, and 1 died from colon cancer after 5 years. One patient developed endometrial cancer after 10.5 years with postmenopausal bleeding. She remains alive and well 3.5 years after hysterectomy and BSO. The remaining 11 patients are amenorrheic at a median follow-up of 6 years (range 1.5-12 years). CONCLUSIONS: Resectoscopic surgery in 3391 women with AUB detected 12 incidental cases of atypical endometrial hyperplasia (incidence 0.35%). Skillful resectoscopic surgery may be an alternative to hysterectomy in women with AUB and atypical endometrial hyperplasia, who refuse or are at high-risk for hysterectomy and who are compliant with regular and long-term follow-up.     

子宫内膜不典型增生患者的内膜癌漏诊因素分析

目的:探讨子宫内膜不典型增生患者子宫内膜癌漏诊的因素及合理治疗方案。方法:回顾分析132例子宫内膜不典型增生子宫切除前后的临床病理资料。根据术前内膜取样方式分为宫腔镜组与诊刮组,比较两种方式的诊断符合率。比较术前病理与术中冰冻病理、术后常规病理,分析其主要临床病理资料。结果:132子宫内膜不典型增生患者中,术后证实为子宫内膜癌者42例(31.82%)。诊刮组的内膜癌漏诊率为32.99%(32/97),高于宫腔镜组28.75%(10/35),但无统计学差异(P0.05)。42例内膜癌患者中,95.24%(40/42)为子宫内膜样腺癌,ⅠA期38例(90.48%),高分化癌34例(80.95%)。术中行冰冻病理检查者115例,其中11例子宫内膜癌漏诊。长期月经紊乱、未生育患者子宫内膜癌漏诊的风险增高。结论:子宫内膜病理诊断为不典型增生的患者有子宫内膜癌漏诊的风险,尤其是长期月经紊乱、未生育的女性。子宫内膜不典型增生的治疗应采取个体化治疗方案。     

宫腔镜对诊断子宫内膜癌的价值

目的 探讨宫腔镜检查对子宫内膜癌和子宫内膜增生的诊断价值。方法 对206例具有临床症状伴子宫内膜高危因素者行宫腔镜检查的结果进行回顾性分析。结果 宫腔镜下诊断为子宫内膜癌及可疑癌共37例(18.6％),经病理证实为子宫内膜癌22例,其中19例进行了手术,术后病理报告宫颈管未受侵15例,受侵4例,与术前宫腔镜诊断符合率94.7％。术中腹水细胞学检查阴性13例,阳性1例,可疑1例。206例中经病理证实Ⅰ～Ⅲ级非典型增生12例,宫腔镜诊断分别为:可疑癌4例,子宫内膜增生3例,正常或萎缩宫内膜4例,内膜结核1例。结论:宫腔镜检查直观病灶,准确定位活检,尤其适用于早期诊断。另外宫腔镜检查能够明确病灶部位和范围,提高宫颈管术前是否受侵的诊断率。     

Risk of discovering endometrial carcinoma or atypical hyperplasia during hysteroscopic surgery in postmenopausal women.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of diagnosing endometrial carcinoma or atypical hyperplasia in tissue resected during hysteroscopy performed for intrauterine pathology presumed benign in postmenopausal women. DESIGN: A single-center prospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Department of Gynecology, La Conception Hospital, Marseille, France. PATIENTS: Three hundred twenty-five women with intrauterine pathology, presumed benign, causing postmenopausal bleeding or bleeding related to hormone replacement therapy. INTERVENTION: All women had an endometrial biopsy after diagnostic hysteroscopy to exclude endometrial carcinoma or atypical hyperplasia. Then they underwent hysteroscopic surgical resection (203, 62.5%) or endometrial ablation (122, 37.5%). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Two cases each (0.6%) of endometrial carcinoma and endometrial atypical hyperplasia were discovered that were missed by preoperative evaluations. CONCLUSION: Outpatient hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy do not eliminate the finding of carcinoma or endometrial atypical hyperplasia, as these disorders may be discovered during hysteroscopic surgery.     

Valor de la histeroscopia en la hiperplasia endometrial con atipias

Objective

To evaluate the utility of hysteroscopy in the diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia and its ability to identify concurrent endometrial cancer.

Subjects and methods

We describe the clinical activity from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 2002, in our hospital gynecology unit. All cases of atypical hyperplasia were collected. Diagnoses made by hysteroscopy combined with different techniques of endometrial biopsy and surgical specimen analysis after hysterectomy were evaluated. All these data were correlated to analyze their diagnostic capacity.

Results

A large percentage of endometrial cancers (11/18) was previously diagnosed exclusively by hysteroscopy, based on morphological approaches. Endometrial biopsy underestimated 22.7% of cases of adenocarcinoma and overestimated 46.8% of cases of atypical hyperplasia.

Conclusions

Hysteroscopy could be a highly useful diagnostic tool to identify endometrial cancer in women with a finding of atypical endometrial hyperplasia on biopsy. Studies with a sufficiently large number of patients to show statistical significance are required.     

Cytological analysis of the distension fluid used during diagnostic office hysteroscopies in patients with suspected endometrial pathology

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the feasibility and usefulness of cytological analysis of the distension fluid used during diagnostic office hysteroscopy in patients with suspected endometrial pathology. METHODS: In 243 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic hysteroscopy for suspected endometrial pathology a few milliliters of the distension medium used for uterine visualization were collected and sent for cytological analysis. Findings of these "endometrial washings" were compared to visual hysteroscopic impression, endometrial biopsy and uterine histology--when available. RESULTS: Endometrial washings were considered adequate in 227 patients (93.4%). In 12 cases (5.3%) atypical cells were detected: all of these presented either atypical complex hyperplasia or endometrial cancer at the final histological evaluation of the uterus. Four of the 16 (25%) patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer or atypical complex hyperplasia at the final histopathological analysis of the uterus had inadequate washings. No patient with cancer or atypical hyperplasia had negative cytology. CONCLUSIONS: Collection and analysis of the distension fluid is feasible and, when positive, has a remarkable value in the diagnosis of endometrial cancer and its precursors.     

Atypical complex endometrial hyperplasia treated with the GyneLase system

A 47-year-old premenopausal, para 1, gravida 1 woman complained of menometrorrhagia. She had no risk factors for endometrial hyperplasia or cancer, and office endometrial biopsy indicated focal, nonatypical endometrial hyperplasia. Seven months later the patient was scheduled for hysteroscopic endometrial resection. Instead she was treated by hysteroscopy, curettage, and the GyneLase system. The curetting indicated atypical, complex endometrial hyperplasia. The woman refused hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy and adjunctive therapy with progesterone. She agreed to close surveillance and further treatment if she had any vaginal bleeding. At 13 months she remains amenorrheic, the endometrial echo is 2 mm, and follicle-stimulating hormone level is 63 IU/L. Based on the patient's amenorrhea and ultrasound uterine measurement, it is tempting to assume that GyneLase treatment may have cured her atypical hyperplasia. However, at this time, we have no evidence to substantiate this assumption.     

Pretreatment and prospective assessment of endometrium in menopausal women taking tamoxifen for breast cancer

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the pretreatment incidence of endometrial pathology and to prospectively assess the endometrial morbidity emerging during tamoxifen intake for breast cancer. STUDY DESIGN: One-hundred and forty-six menopausal breast cancer patients, candidate to receive tamoxifen underwent endometrial assessment by Transvaginal Ultrasonography (TU) before the start of therapy. A double-layered endometrial stripe measuring more than 4mm indicated hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy. Endometrial abnormalities detected before the start of tamoxifen were treated by operative hysteroscopy or by hysterectomy; no therapy and yearly hysteroscopic follow-up was scheduled for patients showing non-atypical hyperplasias. All women were asked to undergo TU on a yearly basis; during the follow-up period, indication for hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy were the following: (i) an endometrial lining measured above 4mm at the first time, (ii) at least a 50% increase of endometrial thickness since the last finding in patients previously assessed by hysteroscopy, (iii) a recorded vaginal bleeding, and (iv) previous findings of endometrial hyperplasia. Histopathologic result from biopsy or hysterectomy was the reference test to establish the baseline prevalence of endometrial pathology and the emerging prevalences of morbidity after 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months of tamoxifen therapy. RESULTS: One-hundred and five patients were followed for 60 months, whereas 113, 126, 137 and 141 patients were evaluated up to 48, 36, 24 and 12 months, respectively. In 44 out of 146 patients, pretreatment TU showed an endometrium thicker than 4mm and in 31 (21.2%) of these patients abnormalities consisting of 16 endometrial polyps, seven polyps harboring simple hyperplasia, four simple hyperplasias, three atypical hyperplasias and one adenocarcinoma were found. During tamoxifen intake benign endometrial abnormalities were detected in 36 out of 114 assessable patients showing normal endometrium before the start of tamoxifen therapy (31.5%) and in seven out of 27 patients with baseline endometrial abnormalities (25.9%). Overall, an endometrial pathology emerged in 30.4% of patients during tamoxifen administration and in no patients we found an atypical lesion. CONCLUSIONS: In menopausal breast cancer patients the incidence of endometrial abnormalities before the start of tamoxifen therapy is high and includes 2.7% of atypical pathology. After the diagnosis and treatment of baseline atypical lesions were accomplished, no atypical endometrial lesion emerged after the start of tamoxifen administration. Based on these findings, we believe that pretreatment assessment of endometrium is recommended in all menopausal women candidate to receive tamoxifen therapy.     

Outcomes of endometrial-polyp treatment with hysteroscopy in operating room

To assess the results of using a resectoscope in the hysteroscopic resection of endometrial polyps that were previously diagnosed by office hysteroscopy and to demonstrate the necessity of extraction for histological study. A prospective long-term follow-up study (level of evidence II-2). University Hospital. 303 women presenting a hysteroscopic image of an endometrial polyp. Interventions: Office hysteroscopy, hysteroscopic resection of polyps by means of a resectoscope and an anatomopathological study of the polyps. Statistical analysis was performed. 303 diagnosed endometrial polyp formations were resected by means of hysteroscopy during surgery. In all cases, biopsies of the uterine cavity or of the polyp were negative. Resection of the polyps with hysteroscopy in the operating room using a resectoscope proved to be a safe technique. The anatomopathological study of the polyps showed hyperplasia with atypias in 10 cases (3.3%) and endometrial cancer in 9 women (3.0%). Our study data suggest that endometrial polyps should be resected because they may harbor malignant or premalignant lesions. Hysteroscopic surgery is recommended for its simplicity and scant complications.     

Accuracy of endometrial biopsy with the Cornier pipelle for diagnosis of endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia

OBJECTIVE: To establish the accuracy of endometrial biopsy with the Cornier pipelle in the diagnosis of endometrial cancer and atypical endometrial hyperplasia in our milieu. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We reviewed 1,535 anatomopathologic reports on endometrial biopsies taken from outpatients using the Cornier pipelle between 1997 and 2000, in pre- and postmenopausal patients with abnormal vaginal bleeding. In 168 patients (10.9%), curettage and/or hysterectomy was subsequently carried out. In these cases, the anatomopathologic reports were compared to determine sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and likelihood ratio (LR). RESULTS: Sensitivity was 84.2%, specificity was 99.1%, accuracy was 96.9%, PPV was 94.1%, NPV was 93.7% and LR was 93.5. In 249 cases (16.09%) the material was insufficient for study. CONCLUSION: We determined that endometrial biopsy taken with the Cornier pipelle is, as we practice it, an accurate method for diagnosis of endometrial cancer and its precursor, atypical hyperplasia.     

子宫内膜非典型增生79例临床病理特征分析

目的 分析子宫内膜非典型增生患者的临床病理特征.方法 选择2007年3月至2010年7月北京大学人民医院收治的诊断为子宫内膜非典型增生患者79例,其中49例(62%)为单纯子宫内膜非典型增生(增生组),30例(38%)为子宫内膜非典型增生合并癌变(癌变组).回顾性分析子宫内膜非典型增生患者的临床病理特征[包括年龄、孕产次、体质指数(BMI)、绝经及阴道流血情况、合并症、B超检查等],并对两组患者进行比较.分析了分段诊刮及宫腔镜检查在子宫内膜非典型增生诊断中的价值.结果 (1)年龄:患者平均年龄为(50±11)岁,其中癌变组为(51±11)岁,增生组为(50±10)岁,两组比较,差异无统计学意义(P=0.994).(2)孕产次:两组患者孕产次分别比较,差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).(3)合并症:增生组和癌变组有合并症的患者分别为23例(47%)和13例(43%),两组比较,差异无统计学意义(P=0.755).(4)BMI:癌变组明显高于增生组[分别为(27.9±5.4)和(25.2±2.9)kg/m2,P=0.024].(5)绝经及阴道流血情况:绝经后患者癌变组为50%(15/30),增生组为31%(15/49),两组比较,差异无统计学意义(P=0.085);绝经后阴道流血患者癌变组为13/15,增生组为8/15,两组比较,差异无统计学意义(P=0.109);未绝经有月经改变患者癌变组为12/15,增生组为68%(23/34),两组比较,差异无统计学意义(P=0.590).(6)B超检查:癌变组阳性(指官腔有回声团)率明显高于增生组[分别为73%(22/30)和51%(25/49),P=0.050].(7)分段诊刮和官腔镜检查的诊断价值:行分段诊刮活检患者23例(29%)、宫腔镜活检44例(56%),两者对非典型增生的初次诊断率分别为87%(21/23)和93%(41/44),对非典型增生伴癌变的初次诊断率分别为6/12和12/16,诊断为非典型增生的患者中癌变的漏诊率分别为6/13和19%(4/21),分别比较,差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 对于围绝经期异常阴道流血患者,应积极进行分段诊刮及官腔镜检查,分段诊刮或官腔镜活检诊断为子宫内膜非典型增生患者中,若其BMI较高或B超提示官腔有回声团,应警惕合并子宫内膜癌的可能.

Abstract：

Objective To explore the clinicopathological characteristics in atypical endometrial hyperplasia patients. Methods A retrospective study was carry out on 79 cases with atypical endometrial hyperplasia patients admitted to Department of Gynecology, Peking University People's Hospital from Mar.2007 to Jul. 2010. All patients were divided into two groups, hyperplasia group (merely atypical endometrial hyperplasia, 49 cases, 62%) and cancerization group (atypical endometrial hyperplasia accompanying endometrial carcinoma, 30 cases, 38%). Results The mean age of 79 cases were (50 ± 11) years old ,while they were (50 ± 10) and (51 ± 11) years old for hyperplasia group and cancerization group, there were not difference (P = 0.994). The gravidity and delivery frequencies were also not differently between two groups. The rates of complicated other diseases were 47% (23/49) and 43% (13/30), which was not significantly different (P = 0.755). The body mass index (BMI) of cancerization group was higher than that of hyperplasia group [(27.9 ± 5.4) vs. (25.2 ± 2.9) kg/m2, P = 0.024]. There were 50% (15/30) and 31% (15/49) menopause cases in two groups, respectively. Among them there were 13/15 and 8/15 cases showed vaginal bleeding. Among premenopausal patients, there were 12/15 and 68% (23/34) showed abnormal vaginal bleeding, but there were not significantly different between two groups (all P ＞ 0.05). The uterine cavity mass found by ultrasonography in the cancerization group patients was more than that in hyperplasia group [73% (22/30) vs. 51% (25/49), P = 0.050]. There were 23 cases (29%), 44 cases (56%) and 12 cases (15%) were diagnosed by dilatation and curettage (D&G), hysteroscopy and hysterectomy, respectively. The rates of diagnosing atypical endometrial hyperplasia by D&G and hysteroscopy were 87 % (21/23) and 93 % (41/44), respectively. The rate of diagnosis of canceration were 6/12 and 12/16, respectively. While, the rate of missed diagnosis of canceration in the atypical endometrial hyperplasia patients by D&G and hysteroscopy were 6/13 and 19% (4/21) ,respectively. Which all did not shown significantly different (P ＞ 0.05). Conclusion Hysteroseopy or D&G should be chosen on those peri-menopausal patients with abnormal bleeding, while those atypical endometrial hyperplasia patients with high BMI and uterine cavity mass diagnosed with D&G and ultrasonography should consider the possibility of canceration.     

Coexisting endometrial cancer in patients with a preoperative diagnosis of atypical endometrial hyperplasia

AIM: To investigate the possibility of coexisting endometrial cancer (EC) in patients with atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH). METHODS: Forty-six consecutive women who underwent hysterectomy for AEH were analyzed. RESULTS: Final histopathological evaluation of hysterectomy specimens revealed EC in 11 patients (23.9%). Preoperative diagnosis of AEH was established by pipelle biopsy in eight patients and curettage was performed in the remaining patients. Of the patients with pipelle biopsy, two had a diagnosis of EC (25%), whereas nine women who underwent curettage, were further diagnosed as having EC (23.7%) (P > 0.05). Four (13.3%) of 30 women who had frozen sections at hysterectomy, were diagnosed with EC. Diagnosis of EC was missed in two patients (50%) at frozen section. In contrast, seven of 16 women (43.7%) who did not have frozen section, had EC. CONCLUSION: A relatively high incidence of EC is seen in patients with a diagnosis of AEH. Diagnostic results of pipelle biopsy and curettage were comparable. Frozen sections of hysterectomy specimens does not guarantee to exclude the possibility of EC, especially in patients with no myometrial invasion.