Hysteroscopic evaluation of the endometrium in postmenopausal women taking tamoxifen

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hysteroscopic endometrial changes due to tamoxifen therapy in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. DESIGN: Retrospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: University-affiliated hospital. Patients. Eighty-eight postmenopausal women (or with iatrogenic amenorrhea) receiving tamoxifen 20 mg/day for at least 1 year for breast cancer. INTERVENTION: Record review of patients undergoing transvaginal sonography (TVS) and office hysteroscopy with eye-directed biopsy specimens obtained with a 5-mm, continuous-flow, operative hysteroscope. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients with thickened endometrium and pathologic findings at hysteroscopy had taken tamoxifen for significantly longer times than those without such findings (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm the estrogenic effect of tamoxifen on endometrium. Endometrial evaluation by TVS suggests further diagnostic procedures, but only hysteroscopy allows the surgeon to visualize endometrial lesions and obtain eye-directed biopsy tissue.     

Comparison of transvaginal sonography, saline infusion sonography and hysteroscopy in the evaluation of uterine cavity pathologies

AIMS: To determine whether performing transvaginal sonography (TVS) and saline infusion sonography (SIS) before hysteroscopy could reduce the number of diagnostic hysteroscopies performed for the evaluation of uterine cavity abnormalities. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty three women with suspected uterine cavity abnormalities were prospectively evaluated by TVS, SIS and hysteroscopy, and had histological evaluation of the endometrium with hysteroscopic biopsy or dilatation and curettage (D&C). One hundred and sixty five patients (74%) were premenopausal and 58 patients (26%) were postmenopausal. RESULTS: The positive predictive value (PPV) for endometrial polyps was 69% for TVS, 78% for SIS and 81% for hysteroscopy in premenopausal patients. In the postmenopausal group, TVS and SIS could detect only 24% of endometrial polyps, whereas 70% were diagnosed by hysteroscopy. The PPV for submucous fibroids was 47% for TVS, 81% for SIS and 77% for hysteroscopy in the premenopausal group. CONCLUSIONS: In premenopausal patients, SIS and hysteroscopy are equally accurate in the diagnosis of endometrial polyps and submucous fibroids. Hysteroscopy is the most accurate test for polypoid lesions in the postmenopausal group. Performing TVS, SIS and D&C could reduce the number of diagnostic hysteroscopies performed for the evaluation of uterine cavity abnormalities by 71.5% in premenopausal patients. However, this rate decreases to 40% in the postmenopausal group.     

Accuracy of transvaginal sonography,sonohysterography and hysteroscopy in diagnosis of intrauterine pathology

OBJECTIVES: Sonohysterography (SHG) is a relatively new technique in evaluation of intrauterine disorders. We compared the diagnostic accuracy of this method with that of transvaginal sonography(TVS) and diagnostic hysteroscopy (DH) in diagnosis of intracavitary abnormalities in women with abnormal uterine bleeding, inconclusive endometrial view at TVS and thickened endometrium. METHODS: In prospective study, pre- and postmenopausal women underwent TVS, SHG, and DH. The findings at TVS and SHG were compared with hysteroscopic and histologic findings (obtained from operative hysteroscopy, hysterectomy and d&c). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated for focally growing lesions. RESULTS: 150 patients were included in the study. There was very good agreement between SHG and DH in the diagnosis of focally growing lesions. SHG was more sufficient in detecting intracavitary abnormalities than TVS. Problems with distention of the uterine cavity were due to cervical stenosis and endometrial carcinoma. CONCLUSION: SHG is more accurate in the diagnosis of intracavitary abnormalities than is TVS. SHG is almost as good as DH at detecting focally growing lesions in the uterine cavity.     

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.     

他莫昔芬对乳腺癌患者子宫内膜影响的前瞻性临床病理研究

目的:前瞻性研究他莫昔芬对乳腺癌患者子宫内膜的影响。方法:对2005年1月~2008年10月于温州医学院附属第二医院乳腺外科手术的155例乳腺癌患者进行随访,以阴道B超、宫腔镜及子宫内膜活检评价服用他莫昔芬前后子宫内膜情况。结果:可评价患者共135例,其中绝经前46例,绝经后89例。服用他莫昔芬后,未绝经组36例(78.26%)出现异常阴道流血,9例(19.56%)出现子宫内膜病变,绝经组22例(24.72%)发生异常阴道流血,出现子宫内膜病变29例(32.60%),其中术前绝经组18例(18/59,30.51%),化疗后绝经组11例(11/30,36.67%)。阴道B超对绝经后子宫内膜病变诊断的灵敏度为52.3%,特异度为90.2%,宫腔镜诊断相应的灵敏度为81.8%,特异度为100%。结论:他莫昔芬导致绝经后妇女子宫内膜病变发生增加,对绝经前妇女的影响还不确定。阴道B超可作为初步检测手段,宫腔镜检查可提高诊断的准确率。     

Uterine pathologies in patients undergoing tamoxifen therapy for breast cancer: ultrasonographic, hysteroscopic and histological findings

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To evaluate endometrial abnormalities by ultrasonography, hysteroscopy and biopsy in postmenopausal patients treated with tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy for breast cancer. METHODS: The study was carried out on 113 patients who underwent vaginal ultrasonography, hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy. RESULTS: There was a significative relation between ultrasonographic and hysteroscopic features (p < 0.001); 58 polyps were diagnosed at hysteroscopy, although 35 were not found at ultrasonography. A significant relation between ultrasonographic and histological findings was also documented (p < 0.005). A significant relation between histological findings and symptomatology was found (p < 0.05), although pathologies were also present in asymptomatic women. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that long-term tamoxifen therapy in breast cancer patients is associated with a higher incidence of uterine pathology. No significant relation has been documented between duration of treatment and grade of endometrial lesion (p > 0.05). Ultrasonography alone is useful in asymptomatic patients because it selects patients with increased endometrial thickness who should undergo hysteroscopy. Hysteroscopy is more accurate in detecting polyps, hyperplastic and neoplastic changes. Asymptomatic tamoxifen treated women should be evaluated as symptomatic patients.     

Hysteroscopic evaluation of the uterine cavity in postmenopausal women with uterine bleeding

Postmenopausal uterine bleeding is the most characteristic and frequent endometrial adenocarcinoma symptom. Patient with uterine bleeding appeared at least 12 months after the last menstruation needs diagnostic management before initiation of any treatment. OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of hysteroscopy for the recognition of pathologies causing postmenopausal uterine bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-nine women aged 48-80 without hormonal replacement therapy hospitalized in the 1st Department of Gynecology and Gynecological Oncology of the Medical University of ?ód? between 1998-2002 because of postmenopausal uterine bleeding were included in the study. In each case diagnostic hysteroscopy with visualisation of the uterine cavity was performed and then histopathologic biopsy by a curretage was taken. Hysteroscopic images were analyzed and compared with the histopathological results. RESULTS: 2 women had the oncologically suspected hysteroscopic images. In both cases endometrial adenocarcinoma was histopathologically confirmed. Among 5 patients with hysteroscopic images suggesting non-malignant endometrial proliferation 4 cases of endometrial hyperplasia were found. 11 times hysteroscopic visualisation of endometrial polyps enabled their complete deletion. In 8 cases intrauterine adhesions were found and dissected: 11 patients presented submucous myomas during hysteroscopy. In 3 cases visualisation of the uterine cavity was not possible because of technical failure. Any patient with absence of hysteroscopically found uterine abnormalities had a poor histopathological result. CONCLUSIONS: Hysteroscopic investigation in postmenopausal women with uterine bleeding reduce the risk of false negative histopathological result. Hysteroscopy is useful method of the uterine cavity visualisation. Thanks to localization and elimination of the pathologies like endometrial polyps and intrauterine adhesions the repeated bleeding and the second time admission of the patient for the same reason can be avoided.     

Saline sonohysterography for monitoring asymptomatic postmenopausal breast cancer patients taking tamoxifen.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of sonohysterography for monitoring asymptomatic postmenopausal breast cancer patients on long-term tamoxifen therapy. METHODS: Thirty-eight asymptomatic postmenopausal patients receiving tamoxifen for breast cancer were enrolled into the study. The endometrium of study subjects was measured by transvaginal ultrasound. If a distinct echo measured < or = 5 mm, no further procedure was performed. For thickened or inadequately visualized endometrium by transvaginal ultrasound (TVS), sonohysterography was performed. Endometrial biopsies were performed for patients with generalized symmetrical changes on sonohysterography. In cases with focal changes, or inadequate SHG, hysteroscopy/dilatation and curettage (D&C) were performed. RESULTS: Transvaginal ultrasound examination showed 12 (31.6%) patients with thin endometrium < or = 5 mm, 18 (47.4%) cases with thickened endometrium while eight (21%) cases were not adequately visualized by TVS. Sonohysterography was satisfactorily performed in 22 of 26 (84.6%) cases. Of these, three cases showed thin endometrium, 10 patients had endometrial polyps (45.5%) and nine patients showed abnormal endometrial-myometrial junction. Histology revealed hyperplasia in three cases and well differentiated adenocarcinoma associated with one polyp. Endometrial curettage for cases with abnormal endometrial-myometrial junction showed endometrial hyperplasia in two cases. Hysteroscopy and D&C were performed for four (15.4%) patients where SHG was unsuccessful, histopathology revealed inactive endometrium in three cases and one was hyperplastic. CONCLUSIONS: Sonohysterography is superior to unenhanced transvaginal sonography in specifying the abnormal ultrasonographic appearance induced by prolonged tamoxifen therapy, it is easily performed, cost-effective and very well tolerated by the patients with no complications. Sonohysterography is recommended as a minimally invasive diagnostic tool for the assessment of endometrial changes in asymptomatic postmenopausal breast cancer patients on long-term tamoxifen therapy with thickened endometrium or inadequately visualized endometrial echo on transvaginal sonography.     

Accuracy of preoperative diagnostic tools and outcome of hysteroscopic management of menstrual dysfunction

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To review diagnoses, complications, and surgical findings in women treated for abnormal uterine bleeding by operative hysteroscopy, and to assess the accuracy of preoperative transvaginal ultrasound (TVS), saline-infusion sonography (SIS), diagnostic hysteroscopy, and endometrial biopsy. DESIGN: Retrospective study (Canadian task force classification II-2). SETTING: Tertiary care academic medical center. PATIENTS: Three hundred seventy-five women. Intervention. Operative hysteroscopy for abnormal uterine bleeding. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Main indications for hysteroscopy were postmenopausal bleeding (164 patients, 43.7%) and abnormal premenopausal uterine bleeding (211, 56.3%). Main pathology findings were endometrial polyps (172, 45.9%) and submucous myomas (105, 28%). Polyps had histologic abnormalities in 18 patients. Sensitivity of preoperative diagnostic tools for all intrauterine abnormalities and specifically for myomas and polyps was TVS 74% and 39%, SIS 96% and 96%, hysteroscopy 100% and 99%, and Pipelle biopsy 24% and 10%. The complication rate was 1.3%. Postmenopausal women felt significantly more improvement in symptoms (p = 0.02), and were more satisfied (p 相似文献   

Comparison of transvaginal ultrasound, saline infusion sonography and hysteroscopy to investigate postmenopausal bleeding and unscheduled bleeding on HRT

A study was conducted to compare transvaginal ultrasound (TVS), saline infusion sonography (SIS) and outpatient hysteroscopy for examining the uterine cavity in women with postmenopausal bleeding and unscheduled bleeding on hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Fourty Subjects agreed to undergo TVS, SIS and hysteroscopy in addition to endometrial sampling. The abnormalities detected by each imaging method were recorded together with the discomfort (visual analogue scale). Thirty women completed all three imaging procedures. In 18 cases TVS suggested an abnormal cavity. SIS and hysteroscopy were of similar efficacy in clarifying the nature of this, and confirmed an abnormality in 12 cases (40%). TVS was significantly less painful than the other procedures (p < 0.001). SIS and hysteroscopy were associated with pain scores similar to endometrial sampling. These findings justify the need for a large randomised trial of TVS, SIS, hysteroscopy and endometrial sampling, in order to develop the most appropriate strategy for investigating postmenopausal bleeding and unscheduled bleeding on HRT.     

Endometrial evaluation with transvaginal ultrasound during hormone therapy: a prospective multicenter study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of endometrial thickness as a marker of endometrial abnormality risk during hormone therapy (HT) and to study the correlation between abnormal bleeding and abnormal endometrial histology in patients with thick endometrium. DESIGN: Prospective multicenter study. SETTING: University and general hospitals outpatient centers. PATIENT(S): Postmenopausal women (702) on HT. INTERVENTION(S): Biendometrial thickness was measured by transvaginal sonography (TVS) between day 5 and day 10 after the last P intake and, when present, after the end of the menstrual-like bleeding. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Hysteroscopy and biopsy were performed within 5 days from TVS on all patients with an endometrial thickness >4.5 mm (precision scale 0.5 mm). RESULT(S): Endometrial thickness >4.5 mm was observed in 20.5% of patients. One hundred sixteen hysteroscopies and biopsies were performed. Hyperplasia, polyps, and endocavitary fibroids were detected in 15%, 24%, and 8% of cases, respectively. The positive predictive value of TVS examination was 47%. Endometrial thickness was the only variable significantly and independently associated with histologic abnormalities and endocavitary fibroids. Abnormal bleeding occurred in 17.1% of patients. Among 17 patients detected with thick endometrium and hyperplasia, 8 cases showed abnormal bleeding. CONCLUSION(S): Sonographic endometrial thickness of 4.5 mm provides a sensitive tool to select HT patients who might benefit from hysteroscopy and biopsy. Abnormal bleeding is not a sensitive sign of hyperplasia in patients with thick endometrium.     

Prospective study of saline infusion sonohysterography in evaluation of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding

AIM: To evaluate saline infusion sonohysterography as an investigative modality in abnormal uterine bleeding in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients, 52 perimenopausal and six postmenopausal women, with abnormal uterine bleeding were selected from the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Shrimati Sucheta Kriplani Hospital. After complete work-ups, transvaginal examinations were performed followed by sonohysterographies. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values and negative predictive values were calculated for transvaginal sonography (TVS) and saline infusion sonohysterography as compared with findings of hysteroscopy/hysterectomy. RESULTS: Saline infusion sonohysterography was performed in 56 cases. It could not be done in one perimenopausal and one postmenopausal woman. Cavity was normal in 41 perimenopausal and five postmenopausal women. Ten women displayed abnormalities. Two had submucosal fibroids, two had intramural fibroids, one had fibroid polyp, three had endometrial polyps and two patients had endometrial growths. We found that TVS missed three endometrial polyps and one endometrial growth and led to mislabeling two intramural fibroids as submucosal. On comparing the sonohysterographic findings with those of hysteroscopy or hysterectomy, one endometrial polyp and one endocervical polyp was missed on sonohysterography, and one false positive growth was observed on sonohysterography. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and the negative predictive value of TVS were 84.8%, 79%, 82.4% and 82%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and the negative predictive value of saline infusion sonohysterography were 94.1%, 88.5%, 91.4% and 92%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Saline infusion sonohysterography is a safe, convenient, time conserving, cost effective, easily accessible and acceptable investigative modality. It definitely enhances the diagnostic potential of TVS in assessment of endometrium and intracavitary pathologies.     

Accuracy of hysteroscopy in predicting histopathology of endometrium in 1500 women

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To estimate the accuracy of hysteroscopy in predicting endometrial histopathology. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Public hospital. PATIENTS: One thousand five hundred women undergoing diagnostic hysteroscopy for suspected endometrial pathology, mostly because of abnormal uterine bleeding. INTERVENTIONS: Hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Hysteroscopy imaging was matched with histology. Functional, dysfunctional, and atrophic endometrium were considered normal findings; endometritis, endometrial polyps, hyperplasia, and carcinomas were considered abnormal. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative (NPV) and positive (PPV) predictive values of hysteroscopy in detecting normal or abnormal endometrium were calculated. These figures were defined to assess hysteroscopic accuracy in estimating pathologic conditions. Histology showed normal endometrium in 927 patients. Endometritis, polyps, hyperplasia, and malignancies were found in 21, 265, 185, and 102 patients, respectively. Hysteroscopy showed sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and PPV of 94.2%, 88.8%, 96.3%, and 83.1%, respectively, in predicting normal or abnormal histopathology of endometrium. Highest accuracy was in diagnosing endometrial polyps, with sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and PPV of 95.3%, 95.4%, 98.9%, and 81.7%, respectively; the worst result was in estimating hyperplasia, with respective figures of 70%, 91.6%, 94.3%, and 60.6%. All failures of hysteroscopic assessment resulted from poor visualization of the uterine cavity or from underestimation or overestimation of irregularly shaped endometrium. CONCLUSION: Hysteroscopy was accurate in distinguishing between normal and abnormal endometrium. Nevertheless, better knowledge of relationship between hysteroscopic imaging and pathophysiologic states of endometrium is necessary to improve its accuracy. Endometrial sampling is recommended in all hysteroscopies showing unevenly shaped and thick endometrial mucosa or an anatomically distorted uterine cavity, and when endouterine visualization is less than optimal.     

Dilatation and curettage fails to detect most focal lesions in the uterine cavity in women with postmenopausal bleeding

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of focally growing lesions in the uterine cavity in women with postmenopausal bleeding and endometrium > or = 5 mm and the extent to which such lesions can be correctly diagnosed by D&C. METHODS: In a prospective study, 105 women with postmenopausal bleeding and endometrium > or = 5 mm at transvaginal ultrasound examination underwent diagnostic hysteroscopy, D&C and hysteroscopic resection of any focally growing lesion still left in the uterine cavity after D&C. Twenty-four women also underwent hysterectomy. If the histological diagnosis differed between specimens from the same patient, the most relevant diagnosis was considered the final one. RESULTS: Eighty percent (84/105) of the women had pathology in the uterine cavity, and 98% (82/84) of the pathological lesions manifested a focal growth pattern at hysteroscopy. In 87% of the women with focal lesions in the uterine cavity, the whole or parts of the lesion remained in situ after D&C. D&C missed 58% (25/43) of polyps, 50% (5/10) of hyperplasias, 60% (3/5) of complex atypical hyperplasias, and 11% (2/19) of endometrial cancers. The agreement between the D&C diagnosis and the final diagnosis was excellent (94%) in women without focally growing lesions at hysteroscopy. CONCLUSION: If there are focal lesions in the uterine cavity, hysteroscopy with endometrial resection is superior to D&C for obtaining a representative endometrial sample in women with postmenopausal bleeding and endometrium > or = 5 mm.     

Endometrial ablation versus hysterectomy in women treated with tamoxifen

AIM: The aim of our study is the assessment of the importance of the endometrial ablation versus hysterectomy in patients treated with tamoxifen for previous breast cancer. METHODS: Fifty-eight outpatients in therapy with tamoxifen for 1 year were controlled in the Department of Gynaecology of the University of Naples. We have selected these patients in two groups: group A, with 28 women with abnormal uterine bleeding and endometrial thickness >8 mm and group B, with 30 normal endometrium asymptomatic women. All patient of group A and 18 of group B were treated with endometrial ablation. RESULTS: Next follow-up showed normal hysteroscopy figures in 89% of cases and 5% of cases needed a hysterectomy for new abnormal uterine bleeding and cytology. CONCLUSION: Our results show the utility of endometrial ablation especially in selected cases in therapy with tamoxifen for previous breast cancer.     

Diagnosis of malignant mesenchymal uterine tumors by hysteroscopic excisional biopsy

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To emphasize the need for histologic evaluation of intrauterine lesions. Six cases of unexpected mesenchymal uterine tumors were diagnosed following pathologic review of specimens obtained during hysteroscopy to evaluate intrauterine lesions. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). SETTING: Large tertiary care medical center. PATIENTS: Four postmenopausal and two perimenopausal women with uterine mesenchymal tumors. INTERVENTION: Hysteroscopy and staging laparotomy. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 57.5 +/- 19.5 years (mean +/- 2SD). Four women (67%) were postmenopausal. Three patients had abnormal uterine bleeding, one had a cervical mass, and the other two were asymptomatic and referred for evaluation of thick endometrium detected by routine ultrasound, which had been preformed as part of their annual check-up. In all cases, the initial hysteroscopic diagnosis was endometrial polyp or submucous myoma. Following the pathologic review, all six women underwent complete staging laparotomy. In two women, there was no residual disease in the surgical specimen. None of the patients had extrauterine spread of the disease. At mean follow-up of 21.5 +/- 9.7 months (mean +/- 2SD), all women were asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: Intrauterine lesions erroneously considered to be benign endometrial polyps or myomas can turn out to be malignant mesenchymal uterine tumors. Hysteroscopic evaluation and biopsy might offer early diagnosis and treatment to these patients.     

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.     

Hysteroscopy and transvaginal ultrasonography in postmenopausal women with uterine bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of hysteroscopy and transvaginal ultrasonography (TU), based on a histopathological report from endometrial specimens, in diagnosing endometrial pathology in menopausal women with uterine bleeding. METHODS: Four-hundred and nineteen postmenopausal women with uterine bleeding underwent TU, hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy. Hysteroscopic and sonographic findings have been evaluated on the basis of the final diagnosis established by histologic examination. Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of TU at an endometrial thickness cut-off point of 4 and 8 mm (double layer technique) and of panoramic hysteroscopy have been detected. RESULTS: Normal and abnormal endometrium was found in 222 and in 197 women, respectively. TU showed sensitivity of 95.1%, specificity of 54.8% and positive predictive value of 63.7% at a cut-off limit of 4 mm. With a cut-off limit of 8 mm the corresponding figures were 83.8%, 81.3% and 79.4%. Hysteroscopy demonstrated a sensitivity of 96.5%, specificity of 93.6% and positive predictive value of 92.6%. The combination of the two diagnostic tools showed a 100% sensitivity, 94.8% specificity and 93.3% positive predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: With cut-off limit of 4 mm, TU can be considered the first choice modality of endometrial investigation in women with postmenopausal uterine bleeding to select patients at risk to carry endometrial pathology. Hysteroscopy is a more accurate technique than TU because of better specificity and must be indicated for all patients showing an endometrial strip more than 4 mm. When an endometrial thickness below 4 mm is detected by ultrasound, hysteroscopy may be indicated on clinical background because of the possibility to miss infrequent (2.5% in our series), but relevant endometrial pathologies. Endometrial sampling should follow hysteroscopic view in all cases showing abnormal or suspicious lesions as well as in all cases with irregularly shaped endometrial lining and/or suboptimal endoscopic vision.     

Tamoxifen-induced endometrial changes in postmenopausal women with breast carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of tamoxifen (TAM) on the endometrium in postmenopausal women. METHODS: A case control study of postmenopausal women with breast carcinoma, who were undergoing treatment in the Department of Radiotherapy and Surgery at the Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore, India was done. Thirty-five women who were on tamoxifen (20 mg/day) for a period of at least 6 months formed the study group. Thirty-three women who were not receiving tamoxifen, formed the control group. Subjects in both groups had a pelvic examination and transvaginal sonogram followed by endometrial biopsy. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in the mean endometrial thickness between the study group and control group (7.8+/-6.4 mm vs. 4.0+/-2.0 mm, respectively) More women in the tamoxifen group had an endometrial thickness of >5 mm but the number of women with polyps or hyperplasia of the endometrium did not differ significantly between the two groups. There were no women with endometrial carcinoma in either group. CONCLUSION: All patients on tamoxifen need to be evaluated by clinical examination annually. A transvaginal sonogram and endometrial biopsy/hysteroscopy may be performed on patients with abnormal vaginal bleeding, bloody discharge, staining or spotting.     

Guideline for the diagnosis of postmenopausal bleeding. PMPB Working Group of the SGGG

2.1. History and clinical-gynecological investigation including a Pap smear are the first step in the clarification.The history should make sure if there is in fact bleeding from the genital and not from the urological or the intestinal region.Drug intake should be recorded, and risk factors for the development of endometrial carcinoma should be considered. This will not affect further investigation.The clinical-gynecological investigation should prove the source of postmenopausal bleeding according to the anatomical site--uterine, infra-, or suprauterine. The causes of infrauterine bleeding may easily be diagnosed by means of inspection of the external genitalia and further by using a speculum. The causes of uterine bleeding are of major importance. Cytology and colposcopy, supported by bimanual investigation, exclude cervical carcinoma as a cause of bleeding. Atypical endometrial cells on the cytological smear arouse suspicion of endometrial carcinoma. 2.2. Transvaginal sonography (TVS) is the next step if the above-mentioned investigations are negative. Both adnexa should always be investigated and the findings sonographically documented, so that solid cystic masses in the adnexal area can be better identified as suprauterine causes of postmenopausal bleeding. Then the uterus should be investigated. Further procedures are decided from the results of measurement of the longitudinal section of the endometrium at the level of maximum endometrial thickness.If the endometrial thickness is _<4 mm, an observant attitude can be assumed. After 3 months the patient should be controlled against using TVS. If bleeding recurs or the endometrial thickness is >4 mm on TVS, the procedure given in subparagraph 2.3 should be followed. In case the endometrial thickness is >4mm or not measurable, a histomorphological investigation according to subparagraph 2.3 should be performed. In such cases, saline infusion sonohysterography(SIS) is useful as a simple method to supplement TVS. It can aid in the decision making as to which further, more invasive measures should be taken (endometrial biopsy/hysteroscopic resection). Computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging are, as a rule, not indicated in patients with postmenopausal bleeding. 2.3. A definite diagnosis is possible only on the basis of a histological investigation. If TVS or SS show evidence of a polypoid state, removal under hysteroscopic control is the diagnostic method of choice. In cases of symmetrical or asymmetrical thickening of the endometrium on SIS, a less invasive biopsy may be sufficient. If the biopsy specimen does not yield representative diagnostic material, one should proceed as described above. A fractionated curettage should as a rule not be performed solely, but in combination with hysteroscopy.