Accuracy of hysteroscopic diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia: a retrospective study of 323 patients

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of hysteroscopic view in endometrial hyperplasia. DESIGN: Retrospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Public hospital in northern Italy. PATIENTS: Three hundred twenty-three patients suffering from endometrial hyperplasia out of 2251 women (1119 premenopausal and 1132 postmenopausal) who underwent office-based hysteroscopy from January 1996 through May 2004. INTERVENTION: Review of 2251 outpatient hysteroscopies carried out with 5- to 6-mm sheathed hysteroscopes and accomplished with blind or hysteroscopically targeted endometrial biopsies. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The pathologic report was considered the reference test. Hysteroscopic detection of focal or extensive endometrial thickening, irregular vascular network, architectural distortion and crowding of gland openings, and gland cyst formation were considered endoscopic features consistent with hyperplasia. Overall sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive values (NPV), and positive predictive values (PPV) of hysteroscopy in order to foresee a diagnosis of hyperplasia were calculated. These figures were calculated both in premenopausal and postmenopausal patients. Histopathology yielded a diagnosis of simple, complex, and atypical hyperplasia in 247, 51, and 25 patients, respectively. Hysteroscopy foresaw hyperplasia in 38.4% of patients with simple hyperplasia and in 58.9% of patients with complex or atypical hyperplasia. Normal hysteroscopic findings underestimated simple hyperplasia in 34 patients (13.7%) and complex or atypical hyperplasias in 1 patient (1.3%) (p <.01). To predict the diagnosis of hyperplasia, hysteroscopy showed an overall sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and PPV of 63.7%, 91.7%, 91.3%, and 64.7%, respectively. Among premenopausal patients, hyperplasia was diagnosed in 134 women (11.9%); in this group, hysteroscopy showed sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and PPV of 65.6%, 88.5%%, 93.5%, and 50.5%, respectively. In postmenopausal patients, we found endometrial hyperplasia in 189 women (16.6%); sensitivity, specificity, NPV, and PPV of hysteroscopic view to anticipate hyperplasia were 61.6%, 95.2%, 89.3%, and 79.4%, respectively. A significantly better PPV to foresee hyperplasia was found in postmenopausal women compared with premenopausal patients (p <.01). CONCLUSIONS: Current hysteroscopic criteria suggesting endometrial hyperplasia are inaccurate; in order to exclude hyperplasia, a pathologic assessment is warranted in all hysteroscopies showing an irregularly lined or thick endometrium.     

The role of outpatient diagnostic hysteroscopy in identifying anatomic pathology and histopathology in the endometrial cavity

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of outpatient diagnostic hysteroscopy. DESIGN: Retrospective review (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: University teaching hospital-based outpatient clinic. PATIENTS: One thousand six hundred women, 67.3% premenopausal and 32.7% postmenopausal. INTERVENTION: Diagnostic hysteroscopy without premedication or anesthesia; endometrial sampling or hysteroscopy-guided biopsy was performed when appropriate. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Outpatient hysteroscopy was successfully performed in 1468 women (91.8%). Eleven women (0. 7%) developed vasovagal response during the procedure, 18 required hospital admission because of pain or hemorrhage, and 2 were suspected of having uterine perforation. All recovered spontaneously without intervention. Intrauterine anatomic pathology was diagnosed in 17.0%; the overall frequency of myomas and endometrial polyps was 12.3% and 7.1%, respectively. The sensitivity and positive predictive value of hysteroscopy without biopsy in diagnosing endometrial carcinoma were only 58.8% and 20.8%, respectively. Of 1112 women with hysteroscopic impression of normal or atrophic endometrium, 10 (0.9%) had endometrial hyperplasia on biopsy. CONCLUSION: Hysteroscopy without biopsy carries low sensitivity and positive predictive value in the diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma and hyperplasia. In our opinion the predictive value of a negative hysteroscopy is inadequate, and endometrial biopsy should be performed during hysteroscopy for accurate diagnosis of endometrial histopathology.     

Evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding by transvaginal 3-D hysterosonography and diagnostic hysteroscopy

AIM: To compare 3-D hysterosonography (3-DHS) and diagnostic hysteroscopy in women with abnormal uterine bleeding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 248 women with abnormal uterine bleeding who were referred to our department, 3-D hysterosonography and hysteroscopy were performed in 242 women and the results were estimated. In six women 3-DHS could not performed because of cervical stenosis. Sensitivity and specificity of 3-DHS compared to those of hysteroscopy. RESULTS: From the 242 women who underwent examination, we found 30 patients with polyps, 22 with myomas, four with mullerian anomalies, ten with endometrial cancer, 12 with adhesions and 165 with a normal uterine cavity. There was agreement between the two methods in 28 cases of polyps, 22 cases of myomas, four cases of mullerian anomalies, ten cases of endometrial cancer, eight cases of adhesions and in 165 cases of normal endometrium. The sensitivity and specificity of 3D hysterosonography was 93.5% and 99.4%, respectively, with a positive prognostic value (PPV) of 98.6% and a negative prognostic value (NPV) of 97%. The sensitivity and specificity of hysteroscopy was 98.7% and 99.4%, respectively, with a PPV of 98.7% and a NPV of 99.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Three-D hysterosonography accurately assessed intrauterine pathology.     

Comparison of saline infusion sonography and histological findings in the evaluation of uterine cavity pathologies

Aim  To evaluate the accuracy of saline infusion sonography for the diagnosis of endometrial cavity abnormalities in patients who presented with abnormal uterine bleeding. Methods  Eighty-three women suspected of having endometrial cavity abnormalities were evaluated using saline infusion sonography. The results of this technique were compared with the histological evaluation reports of these women either with hysteroscopy or laparotomy prospectively. Results  The positive predictive value (PPV) for endometrial polyps was 25%; the negative predictive value (NPV) was 93%; the sensitivity for endometrial polyps was 80% and the specificity was 87%. The PPV, the NPV, the sensitivity and the specificity for submucous fibroids were 65, 85, 81 and 89%, respectively. Conclusions  Saline infusion sonography was a reliable and accurate method for investigations of the endometrium and uterine cavity with good correlation, with histological results of more invasive procedures. It can be a good alternative technique for the evaluation of uterine cavity abnormalities where office hysteroscopy is not available.     

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.     

Accuracy of office hysteroscopy in the diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia

In the last decade the advantages of office hysteroscopy performed without cervical dilatation and/or anaesthesia were fully demonstrated. Many authors consider office hysteroscopy the gold standard diagnostic method in the diagnosis of intrauterine pathology, with high accuracy and compliance. The best sensitivity and specificity are reached in the diagnosis of focal lesions as submucous myomas and polyps but controversy still persists regarding hysteroscopic accuracy in the definition of endometrial hyperplasia. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of outpatient hysteroscopy in the diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia and to compare hysteroscopic findings with histology. From April 2000 to May 2002, 145 diagnostic office hysteroscopies were performed at the Euganea Medica clinic. Sensitivity in the detection of endometrial hyperplasia was 89.36%, specificity 91.96%, positive predictive value (PPV) 82.36% while negative predictive value (NPV) reached 95.37%. Uniformity of histology associated with outpatient mini-invasivity and high compliance favour office hysteroscopy and represent important elements in its diffusion as a first level diagnostic method even in the diagnosis of hyperplasia.     

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.     

Detection of benign intracavitary lesions in postmenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding: a prospective comparative study on outpatient hysteroscopy and blind biopsy

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the specificity of blind biopsy in detecting benign intracavitary lesions as causes of postmenopausal bleeding in comparison with directed biopsy via hysteroscopy. DESIGN: Prospective trial without randomization (Canadian Task Force classification II-1). SETTING: University hospital. PATIENTS: Three hundred nineteen postmenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent both blind biopsy (Novak's curette) and directed biopsy via hysteroscopy (after at least a week). All patients with benign intracavitary lesions underwent operative hysteroscopy to enable the removal of polyps and intracavitary myomas or endometrial resection if required. All patients with pathologic reports of complex hyperplasia and atypical hyperplasia (20 patients) underwent vaginal hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy. All patients with histology reports of endometrial carcinoma (15 patients) underwent abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral adnexectomy, and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Histopathologic findings from endometrial specimens obtained after operative hysteroscopy or uterine specimens obtained after hysterectomy were used as a reference test to establish the prevalence of disease. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values of blind biopsy and hysteroscopy were assessed to distinguish benign intracavitary formations such as polyps, submucous myomas, and endometrial hyperplasia in postmenopausal patients with abnormal uterine bleeding. The level of agreement was evaluated by use of the coefficient of concordance kappa. Blind biopsy showed a sensitivity of 11% and a specificity of 93%, with an accuracy of 59% in detecting endometrial polyps, a sensitivity and specificity of 13% and 100%, respectively, with an accuracy of 98% for submucous myomas, and values of 25%, 92%, and 80%, respectively, in diagnosing hyperplasia. On the other hand, hysteroscopy demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 97%, with an accuracy of 91% in diagnosing endometrial polyps, a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 98%, respectively, with an accuracy of 99% for submucous myomas. The coefficient of concordance kappa (95% CI) was 0.12 for blind biopsy and 0.82 for hysteroscopy, corresponding, respectively, to slight concordance and almost perfect agreement with final pathologic diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Blind biopsy (Novak's curette) demonstrates very low sensitivity and accuracy in the diagnosis of benign focal intracavitary lesions. Hysteroscopy is confirmed as the gold standard in the assessment of abnormal uterine bleeding in menopause, permitting the elimination of the false-negative results of blind biopsy through direct visualization of the uterine cavity and the performance of targeted biopsy in case of doubt.     

Use of Hysteroscopy in Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: An Edge Over Histopathological Examination

Purpose of the Study

To assess the efficacy of hysteroscopy in diagnosis of AUB.

Method

A total of 56 women in reproductive and peri-menopausal age group (20–50 years) with complaints of abnormal uterine bleeding were enrolled in the study. All the patients underwent hysteroscopic examination followed by biopsy/histopathological evaluation. Hysteroscopic findings were compared against histopathological findings. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of hysteroscopy were calculated.

Results

Mean age of patients was 36.4 ± 7.6. Majority (60.7%) presented within 6 months of complaints. Clinically, 66.1% were diagnosed as menorrhagia, 30.4% polymenorrhoea and 3.6% intermenstrual bleeding. Hysteroscopically 53.6% presented with abnormal pathology, it diagnosed polyps in 16.1%, calcification in 12.5%, submucous fibroma in 10.7%, necrotic mass in 7.1%, adhesion and forgotten IUCD in 5.4% cases each. However, on histopathology, 33 (58.9%) cases had normal/proliferative/atrophic endometrium, 12 (21.4%) had hyperplasia, 7 (12.5%) had calcified endometrium, and 12 (21.4%) had polyp. No significant difference between two modalities was observed with respect to number of normal/proliferative/atrophic endometrium (p = 0.185). Histopathology diagnosed hyperplasia in significantly higher proportion of patients as compared to hysteroscopy (p = 0.042). Hysteroscopy diagnosed significantly higher proportion of patients with submucous myoma (p = 0.012) and necrotic mass (p = 0.042). Statistically, no significant difference between two modalities was observed with respect to other pathologies (p > 0.05). Overall agreement between two modalities was 62.5%. For pathological abnormalities in general, hysteroscopy had sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy values of 78.3, 63.6, 60, 80.8 and 69.6%, respectively.

Conclusion

Hysteroscopy provided additional information for some of the pathologies, otherwise remaining undiagnosed by HPE.

     

Validation of hysteroscopic view in cases of endometrial hyperplasia and cancer in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To validate hysteroscopic view with histology in cases of endometrial hyperplasia and cancer in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) DESIGN: Retrospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). SETTING: University teaching hospitals in Rio de Janeiro and S?o Paulo, and private office in Rio de Janeiro. PATIENTS: Four thousand and fifty-four patients with AUB in whom hysteroscopic views were complete and the histologic result was conclusive. INTERVENTION: Four thousand and fifty-four office hysteroscopies with complete views and conclusive histologic results. The material for histologic examination was obtained through biopsy of the lesion in an outpatient unit or through the resection of the entire lesion in patients who underwent surgery. Histology was considered the "gold standard" and compared with the hysteroscopic view. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In the histology of the 4054 examinations, 613 (15.2%) were endometrial hyperplasia, and 105 (2.6%) were endometrial cancer. The most frequent hysteroscopic finding was endometrial polyps (31.2%). In endometrial hyperplasia, the sensitivity of the hysteroscopic view was 56.3% (95% CI 52.2%-60.2%), specificity was 89.1% (95% CI 88.0%-90.1%), positive predictive value (PPV) was 48.0% (95% CI 44.3%-51.7%), negative predictive value (NPV) was 92.0% (95% CI 90.1%-92.9%), and accuracy was 72.7% (95% CI 70.7%-74.7%). Accuracy was defined as the proportion of correct results among the hysteroscopic examinations. In endometrial cancer, the sensitivity of the hysteroscopic view was 80.0% (95% CI 71.1%-87.2%), specificity was 99.5% (95% CI 99.2%-99.7%), PPV was 81.5% (95% CI 72.7%-88.5%), NPV was 99.5% (95% CI 99.2%-99.7%), and accuracy was 89.8% (95% CI, 85.9%-93.6%). In the 814 patients (20.0%) in whom the hysteroscopic view was normal, there were no false negatives for endometrial cancer; however, there were 37 (4.5%) false negatives for endometrial hyperplasia. In the histologic cases of endometrial cancer, 101 (96.2%) hysteroscopic views were compatible with cancer or hyperplasia (80.0% and 16.2%, respectively). Ninety-seven out of 103 hysteroscopic views with cancer findings (94.2%) had histologic diagnosis of cancer or hyperplasia (81.5% and 12.6%, respectively). CONCLUSION: It seems that even in face of good validity of hysteroscopic view for endometrial hyperplasia and cancer, histologic study is mandatory in the presence of any lesion as the hysteroscopic view cannot completely replace the histologic study in patients with AUB.     

The efficacy of hysteroscopy for endometrial pathology: the experience of a university clinic on diagnostic accuracy and the comparison with the other methods

Hysteroscopy procedures were retrospectively reviewed in order to reveal the diagnostic accuracy and the efficiency of the diagnostic procedures (transvaginal ultrasonography/TvUsg, saline infusion sonography/SIS, hysteroscopy) for an educational institution in the management of abnormal uterine bleeding. The study was completed in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Istanbul University Cerrahpaa School of Medicine by reviewing the hospital records of the patients on whom hysteroscopy had been performed between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2002. The records of 385 patients were eligible. The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values for saline infusion sonography and hysteroscopy were calculated for specific histopathological diagnoses. The sensitivity and specificity of hysteroscopy for the detection of endometrial polyps were calculated as 83.9 and 63.0%, respectively. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 74.6% and negative predictive value (NPV) 75.2%. The sensitivity and specificity of saline infusion sonography for the detection of endometrial polyps were found to be 87.2 and 33.3%, respectively. PPV was 71.4% and NPV was 57.6% for SIS. The sensitivity and specificity of hysteroscopy for the detection of submucosal leiomyoma were determined to be 80.0 and 92.4%, respectively. PPV was 43.2% and NPV was 98.0%. The sensitivity and specificity of SIS for the detection of submucosal leiomyoma were 71.4 and 92.3%, respectively. PPV was calculated as 52.6% and NPV as 75.2% for SIS. Due to its high diagnostic accuracy and lower complication rate even in the educational setting, we believe that hysteroscopy will retain its place as the gold standard procedure for the investigation of endometrial pathology.     

Hysteroscopic diagnosis in patients with abnormal uterine hemorrhage and previous endometrial curettage]

Thirty-four patients, with a history of persistent abnormal uterine bleeding and dilatation and curettage or suction curettage performed within the previous year, were evaluated by office hysteroscopy and biopsy. For 16 patients (47%) the hysteroscopic diagnosis was in agreement with the curettage. Hysteroscopy revealed more information in 18 patients (53%): 8 had polyps, 6 had submucous or pedunculated myoma, 2 had endometrial neoplasia, 1 had myoma and polyp, 2 had endometrial neoplasia and 1 had synechia. Moreover in 3 patients with diagnosis of suspected myoma by curettage, hysteroscopy revealed a normal cavity. The high incidence of missed diagnosis of pathologic conditions by "blind" curettage supports the opinion that diagnostic hysteroscopy is the method of choice in the evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding.     

Utilidad de la histeroscopia en el manejo del sangrado uterino anormal

Hysteroscopy is currently considered the test that enables not only the diagnosis but also the treatment of intrauterine pathology in patients with symptoms of abnormal uterine bleeding caused by structural abnormalities such as polyps, adenomyosis, submucosal fibroids, endometrial hyperplasia, or endometrial cancer. The miniaturization of the diameter of hysteroscopes with working channels, the bipolar mini-resector, and the hysteroscopic morcellation systems have allowed outpatient treatment, sometimes at the same time as hysteroscopic diagnosis, providing greater satisfaction, reducing surgical and/or anaesthesia risks and enabling rapid cost-effective resolution of symptoms. This article reviews the usefulness of hysteroscopy for the diagnosis and treatment of intrauterine structural pathology causing abnormal uterine bleeding.     

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.     

Hysteroscopy after uterine fibroid embolization in women of fertile age

AIM: Uterine artery embolization for fibroids is a controversial issue for women with incomplete reproductive plans. Ovarian failure and uterine infection are the most dreaded complications of this procedure. The purpose of the present study was to assess the types and the frequency of intrauterine abnormalities and the histological features of the endometrium after embolization. METHODS: Uterine artery embolization was performed on 51 women (average age 34.5 years) with intramural fibroid/s larger than 4 cm. Hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy was performed from 3 to 9 months later in the luteal phase of the cycle. RESULTS: Despite all women having no major symptoms prior to hysteroscopy, only 19 (37%) had completely normal hysteroscopic findings. There was intrauterine protrusion of fibroid/s in 19 cases (37%), yellowish coloration of the endometrium in 14 (28%), intrauterine or cervical adhesions in seven (14%), and communication between the myoma and the uterine cavity in five cases (10%). A normal, functional endometrium was histologically verified in 44 women of 49 (90%) who could be evaluated. Regressive changes (necrosis or hyalinization) of leiomyoma or of indefinite origin were found in 17 patients and embolization particles in five, including one patient with microspheres inside the endometrial vessel. No case of Asherman syndrome or endometrial atrophy was observed. CONCLUSION: The frequency of abnormal hysteroscopic findings after embolization is surprisingly high. The clinical significance, reversibility, and impact on fertility of abnormal hysteroscopic findings after embolization remain unclear. Regardless, hysteroscopy should be strongly recommended to all patients after uterine fibroid embolization, prior to conception.     

Endometrial thickness screening in premenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding

AIM: To assess the role of measuring endometrial thickness by transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS) as a screening tool for abnormal uterine bleeding triage in premenopausal women. METHODS: Between November 2002 and October 2004, endometrial thickness was measured by TVS in 111 premenopausal women with non-cyclic abnormal uterine bleeding before dilatation and curettage. RESULTS: Of the 111 women, 31 (27.9%) had an abnormal endometrium (hyperplasia 13.5%, polyps 5.4%, submucous myoma 5.4%, and adenocarcinoma 3.6%). An endometrial thickness of 8 mm showed optimal sensitivity and specificity (83.9% and 58.8%, respectively) and 90.4% negative predictive value (NPV) for an abnormal endometrium. When submucous myoma was excluded, the sensitivity, specificity, and NPV were 80%, 53.8%, and 89.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Endometrial thickness of 8 mm or less is less likely to be associated with malignant pathologies in premenopausal uterine bleeding.     

Sonographic, hysteroscopic, and histologic evaluation of the endometrium in postmenopausal women with breast cancer receiving tamoxifen

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the estrogenic effects of tamoxifen on the endometrium in postmenopausal women with breast cancer. DESIGN: Consecutive study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: University-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-three women. Interventions. All patients underwent transvaginal sonography (TVS) and color flow Doppler of endometrial vessels, hysteroscopy, and, if necessary, endometrial biopsy or other operative hysteroscopic procedures. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: In four women the endometrium was thin on TVS and atrophic at hysteroscopic assessment. In 29 women with thick endometrium on TVS, hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy showed atrophy (11 patients), hyperplasia (5), polyps (11), and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (2). The two endometrial cancers were present in women with uterine bleeding. In women with positive histologic findings, the endometrium was significantly thicker (p = 0.04) and duration of tamoxifen therapy longer than in those with negative findings, although this was not statistically significant (p = 0.067). CONCLUSION: We believe regular assessment of the endometrium by TVS should be performed in postmenopausal patients at the start of the tamoxifen therapy, and hysteroscopy in women with a thick endometrium or postmenopausal bleeding. We believe that patients with thin endometrium on TVS at the beginning of tamoxifen therapy, who have no abnormal uterine bleeding should be screened with these examinations for 2 years.     

Preoperative hysteroscopic assessment of cervical invasion by endometrial carcinoma: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of hysteroscopy, using normal saline (NS) or carbon dioxide (CO2) as the distention medium, in assessing tumor invasion of the uterine cervix by endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in 200 consecutive patients with endometrial carcinoma diagnosed from 1993 to 2000. Prior to definitive surgical treatment, hysteroscopy was performed using either NS or CO2 as the distention medium to determine whether the tumor had spread to the cervix. The uterine specimens obtained after hysterectomies were cut open for gross examination. Tumor invasion of the cervix as determined by hysteroscopy and gross examinations was compared with the pathological findings. RESULTS: Tumor invasion of the cervix was found in 41 (20.5%) cases on pathological examination. Hysteroscopy has an accuracy of 92.5% (185/200), a sensitivity of 68.3% (28/41), and a specificity of 98.7% (157/159), with a PPV of 93.3% (28/30) and a NPV of 92.4% (157/170) in determining cervical involvement. Assessment by gross inspection had 93.0% (186/200) accuracy, 68.3% (28/41) sensitivity, 99.4% (158/159) specificity, 96.6% (28/29) PPV, and 92.4% (158/171) NPV. There was no significant difference between the two assessment methods. When the results of hysteroscopy performed with different distention mediums were compared, the use of NS had a higher accuracy in determining tumor spread to the cervix (96.8% vs 88.7%, P = 0.03) and NPV (96.4% vs 88.4%, P < 0.05) than the use of CO2. CONCLUSIONS: Hysteroscopic assessment and gross examination of the uterine specimen had similar efficacy in detecting cervical invasion by endometrial carcinoma. Hysteroscopic examination using NS is more accurate than that which uses CO2.     

Comparison of hysteroscopic and hysterectomy findings for assessing the diagnostic accuracy of office hysteroscopy

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of office hysteroscopy by comparing the hysteroscopic findings with the histologic findings on the hysterectomy specimens.DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study.SETTING: University-affiliated hospital.PATIENT(S): Review of the hospital records of 443 patients who underwent office hysteroscopy and, within 2 months, hysterectomy.INTERVENTION(S): We compared the hysteroscopic findings (including targeted biopsies) with the histologic findings that were obtained after hysterectomy. The results of this study were then compared with those of a previous study in which we examined the diagnostic accuracy of dilatation and curettage (D&C).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of office hysteroscopy.RESULT(S): When compared with the histologic diagnosis of the uterus, the hysteroscopic findings showed a diagnostic sensitivity of 98%, a specificity of 95%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 96%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 98%. Hysteroscopy was found to have a greater diagnostic accuracy than D&C: the sensitivity and the NPV of the two diagnostic procedures were statistically different.CONCLUSION(S): Office hysteroscopy is confirmed as a powerful diagnostic tool, but targeted biopsies, performed with a small diameter operative hysteroscope, must be performed in cases of suspect endometrium to confirm the image-based diagnosis.     

Hysteroscopic vs histologic diagnosis. Study of 222 cases of abnormal uterine hemorrhage]

BACKGROUND: AUB (abnormal uterine bleeding) is one of the most common pathologies. It is therefore important to use a method that is easy to carry out in order to ensure a rapid and reliable diagnosis. Hysteroscopy may represent the elective method for the study of the uterine cavity. METHODS: A total of 222 women suffering from AUB were studied between January 1996 and June 1997 at the Department of Surgery, Gynecology Clinic of L'Aquila University. Their age ranged between 30 and 74 years old. The exclusion criteria for the study were as follows: presence of a genital infection in active or latent phase, pregnancy in progress or abortion. All patients underwent operative hysteroscopy with targeted biopsy accompanied, when necessary, by endometrial ablation. All biopsies underwent histological analysis and the results of hysteroscopic diagnosis and histological diagnosis were then compared. RESULTS: There was a 85% correspondence between results. The main difficulties were encountered in the identification and selection of the characteristics of hyperplasia. Moreover, during the study it was found that hysteroscopy was both diagnostic and also therapeutic since it enabled the removal of polyps and intracavitary fibroma or endometrial ablation if required. CONCLUSIONS: Hysteroscopy was therefore found to be a totally reliable method for the study of abnormal uterine bleeding compared to the histological tests carried out.