绝经后无症状子宫内膜增厚女性的临床评估

子宫内膜癌发病率逐年上升,早期准确的诊断能够极大地改善患者预后。绝经后子宫内膜增厚的女性,如有阴道出血等症状,应积极按照子宫内膜病变的筛查流程;而无症状的女性是否应该积极筛查、如何进行筛查仍有争议。多数研究结果证明经阴道超声(TVUS)结合子宫内膜组织病理学检查时,可评估内膜病变,但是TVUS下内膜厚度与子宫内膜癌及癌前病变的关系仍存争议。TVUS在绝经后无症状子宫内膜增厚人群中的低特异性给临床处理造成困扰,且绝经后无症状人群行TVUS筛查能否提高子宫内膜癌总体5年生存率仍被质疑。随着医疗检查手段的不断发展,经阴道注水超声、子宫内膜细胞学检查等新兴子宫内膜病变筛查手段似乎能够替代TVUS用来评估该人群的子宫内膜情况,或弥补TVUS的不足。分析临床常用的几种检查手段在绝经后无症状子宫内膜增厚女性中的应用现状,总结现有绝经后无症状子宫内膜增厚的病理内膜厚度阈值,综述该人群的临床处理评估策略。     

无出血绝经后女性子宫内膜增厚的临床意义初探

目的评估无出血症状的绝经后妇女超声子宫内膜增厚的意义。方法分析2014年1月至2016年6月因为阴道超声子宫内膜厚度≥4 mm而接受宫腔镜检查的无出血绝经后女性患者的临床资料。结果分别有450例无出血和478例有出血绝经后妇女纳入了该研究,最常见的宫内病变均是子宫内膜息肉,无出血患者中共诊断出13例(2.9%)子宫内膜恶性肿瘤和5例(1.1%)子宫内膜不典型增生。有出血患者中共诊断出68例(14.2%)子宫内膜癌和4例(0.8%)子宫内膜不典型增生。结论绝经后女性子宫内膜超过10 mm者子宫内膜恶性肿瘤的风险显著升高,应重视子宫内膜厚度在4~10 mm且合并糖尿病、高龄、未产者。     

妇女绝经后子宫出血经阴道超声检查后是否必定作子宫内膜活检?

作者实施本研究目的是评估妇女绝经后出血或激素替代治疗期间不规则出血 ,阴道超声检查子宫内膜厚度≤ 4mm的患者是否可以不作子宫内膜活检 ,故作者对 36 1例年龄≥ 5 0岁因绝经后出血或激素替代治疗期间不规则出血妇女行阴道超声检查 ,对子宫内膜厚度≤ 4mm者则作宫颈涂片巴氏检查 ,在 4～ 12个月重复检查 ,期间再次出血则作子宫内膜活检。子宫内膜厚度≥ 5 m m者或作诊刮或作子宫内膜活检。结果 :16 3例妇女子宫内膜厚度≤ 4mm中有 1例子宫内膜癌 ,被超声漏诊而由宫颈细胞学检查发现 ,2例超声检出为附件恶性肿瘤 (卵巢及输卵管癌各 1例 )…     

子宫内膜癌诊断方法

子宫内膜癌是原发于子宫内膜的上皮性恶性肿瘤,是女性生殖道三大恶性肿瘤之一。近年来其发病率有上升的趋势,尤其围绝经期及绝经后妇女,发病率更高。其多表现为异常阴道出血或阴道排液等,特别是对有高危因素者,应考虑到有子宫内膜癌的可能。多年来,国内外众多学者也在不断地探索子宫内膜癌的诊断方法。辅助检查包括超声、电子计算机断层扫描（CT）、磁共振成像（MRI）、宫腔镜检查（HS）、子宫内膜活检术及子宫内膜细胞学检查（ECT）和肿瘤标记物的检测等,应联合多种辅助检查来明确诊断。综述有关该病诊断的最新研究进展。     

绝经后妇女经阴道彩色多普勒超声诊断宫腔病变的临床分析

目的通过经阴道彩色多普勒超声检查对绝经后妇女宫腔病变结果综合分析,提高绝经后妇女宫腔病变的早期诊断率,为进一步诊疗提供理论依据。方法 2011年4月至2012年5月对2 838例绝经后妇女进行经阴道彩色多普勒超声检查,对可疑宫腔病变者行宫腔镜手术,根据病理结果分析宫腔病变的发病情况。结果 2 838例绝经后妇女中,宫腔积液635例;超声可疑宫腔病变354例,经病理确诊宫腔病变305例,其中内膜息肉245例,内膜癌27例,内膜增生32例,内膜间质肉瘤1例,对子宫内膜息肉、子宫内膜增生及子宫内膜癌的超声提示和宫腔镜病理诊断进行kappa一致性检验,kappa值0.754(P0.001)。结论经阴道彩色多普勒超声检查对绝经后妇女宫腔病变有较高的诊断符合率,是绝经后妇女必不可少的检查手段之一,为宫腔病变的早发现、早诊断和早治疗提供依据。     

绝经后阴道出血患者诊断性刮宫前B超检测子宫内膜的价值

目的：评估绝经后阴道出血患者应用Ｂ超检测子宫内膜，以减少不必要的诊断性刮宫术（诊刮术）的价值。方法：对１９２例绝经后阴道出血患者，于诊刮术前行Ｂ超检查，测量子宫大小及子宫内膜厚度，然后进行分段诊刮术，标本送病理检查。结果：７７例内膜厚度≤４ｍｍ者中，７４例（９６．１％）子宫内膜属生理性改变，３例为内膜癌；１１５例子宫内膜厚度≥５ｍｍ者中，９２例（８０．０％）子宫内膜属病理性改变，其中５９例（５１．３％）为内膜癌。结论：高分辨阴道Ｂ超检测，可作为绝经后出血患者进行诊刮术前的一种筛选手段，当超声检测内膜厚度≤４ｍｍ时，可考虑避免诊刮术。     

宫腔细胞学联合阴道超声检查在子宫内膜癌筛查中的应用价值

目的 探讨宫腔细胞学检查(endometrial cytological test,ECT)联合阴道超声(transvaginal sonography, TVS)在绝经后妇女子宫内膜癌筛查中的应用价值.方法 选取绝经后有子宫内膜癌(EC)高危因素的无症状,子宫内膜增厚＞4mm伴(或)宫腔内高回声患者78例,行ECT后...     

绝经期子宫内膜增厚患者临床病理分析

目的探讨绝经后无症状子宫内膜增厚患者病理情况及临床处理原则。方法选取2008年1月至2010年11月在上海市长宁区妇幼保健院就诊的绝经后超声提示子宫内膜增厚而无症状者184例(无症状组)行宫腔镜检查,取组织进行病理检查;并与同期伴有阴道出血或阴道排液的绝经后子宫内膜增厚患者99例(出血组)进行比较。结果无症状组子宫内膜增厚患者经宫腔镜检查病理多数为子宫内膜息肉(119例,64.67%)或黏膜下小肌瘤(17例,14.67%),符合绝经后正常表现16例(7.61%),仅有9例(4.89%)为子宫内膜癌患者。出血组子宫内膜增厚患者子宫内膜息肉28例(28.28%),黏膜下小肌瘤4例(4.04%),符合绝经后正常表现18例(18.18%),子宫内膜癌37例(37.37%)。结论绝经后无症状子宫内膜增厚患者经宫腔镜检查病变阳性检出率高(>90%),以子宫内膜息肉为主。宫腔镜检查是探查无症状子宫内膜增厚患者的首选方法。     

绝经后无症状子宫内膜增厚患者临床病理分析

目的:探讨绝经后妇女B超检查显示子宫内膜增厚而无症状者的子宫内膜病理变化。方法:对绝经后B超显示子宫内膜增厚无症状患者(无症状组)及同期绝经后B超显示子宫内膜增厚伴有阴道出血者(出血组)进行诊断性刮宫与病理检查结果比较。结果:无症状组子宫内膜增厚的86例患者中,非器质性病变44例(51.16%),良性病变42例(48.84%),无恶性及癌前病变;出血组子宫内膜增厚的79例中,非器质性病变48例(60.76%),良性病变17例(21.52%),恶性14例(17.72%)。无症状组随着年龄增大、绝经年限延长、内膜厚度增加,其良性病变呈上升趋势(P0.05);出血组随着年龄增大、绝经年限延长、内膜厚度增加,其恶性病变呈上升趋势(P0.05);其中无症状绝经后妇女B超示子宫内膜增厚者中内膜病变与内膜厚度和体质量指数(BMI)相关。结论:绝经后子宫内膜增厚不伴阴道出血时,多为良性病变,对于肥胖、内膜厚及绝经年龄较长患者更应重视。绝经后子宫内膜增厚伴有阴道出血时,恶性病变比例显著升高。     

绝经后子宫内膜增厚与子宫内膜病变的相关性研究

目的:探讨绝经后子宫内膜增厚与子宫内膜病变的相关性,重点探讨无症状子宫内膜增厚预测内膜恶变风险的内膜厚度阈值.方法:选择245例绝经后经阴道超声检查提示子宫内膜厚度≥5 mm的患者作为研究对象,分为绝经后出血(PMB)组(124例)和无PMB组(121例),均行宫腔镜下子宫内膜活检,分析其临床病理资料.结果:①PMB组...     

Asymptomatic Thickened Endometrium in Postmenopausal Women: Malignancy Risk

Study ObjectiveTo assess the diagnostic findings and determine the frequency of malignancy in postmenopausal women evaluated by office hysteroscopy for a thickened endometrium without bleeding.DesignRetrospective cohort (Canadian Task Force classification II-B).SettingAcademic medical center in the Midwestern United States.PatientsOver 3600 women underwent an office hysteroscopy between January 1, 2007, and October 20, 2011, for abnormal uterine bleeding or an abnormal ultrasound. Of these, 154 postmenopausal women had a thickened endometrium (>4 mm) and no bleeding.InterventionsFlexible office hysteroscopy using a 3.1-mm scope with saline as the distending media was performed for clinical reasons, and results were captured within a research database.Measurements and Main ResultsFor the 154 women, the range of endometrial measurements was 4.2 to 28 mm (mean = 10.0 mm). Hysteroscopy diagnoses included 93 patients with polyps, 19 with myomas or uterine synechiae, and 34 with benign-appearing endometrium. Nine hysteroscopies were inadequate because of poor visualization (n = 1), cervical stenosis (n = 6), or patient discomfort (n = 2). Endometrial biopsies (EMBs) were performed in 109 patients, and none were found to have cancer or an atypical endometrium. Six had simple hyperplasia without atypia, and their endometrial measurements were within the range of the patients in our study who had a benign endometrium (5–15 mm, mean = 10.3). Of the women with a polyp, 73 (78.4%) subsequently underwent polypectomy. On final pathology, 1 had cancer (endometrial measurement = 24 mm), and 1 had complex hyperplasia with atypia (endometrial measurement = 17 mm). EMBs performed in the office for these 2 patients showed an insufficient endometrium and inactive endometrium, respectively.ConclusionCancer and atypia can occur in asymptomatic women. Endometrial thickness was 17 mm or greater in 2 cases, and EMBs performed in the office were inconsistent with the final diagnosis. Hysteroscopy is important when ultrasound and EMB do not agree. Polypectomy may be indicated even in asymptomatic women, but further studies regarding an endometrial measurement threshold or polyp size are warranted.     

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.     

Hysteroscopic evaluation of menopausal patients with sonographically atrophic endometrium

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic and operative potential of hysteroscopy in postmenopausal patients selected by ultrasound criteria. DESIGN: Prospective evaluation (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING: Outpatient ultrasound and hysteroscopy department of a university-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: Two hundred twelve women with an endometrial thickness less than 4 mm on ultrasound and in menopause for at least 1 year. INTERVENTIONS: Transvaginal ultrasound and office hysteroscopy, with eye-directed biopsy specimens obtained with a 5-mm, continuous-flow operative hysteroscope, and performed without anesthesia. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Only 13 (6%) patients were symptomatic (irregular bleeding). Hysteroscopic diagnosis of endometrial polyps in three women (23%) was confirmed by histology. In the remaining 199 (94%) asymptomatic patients with atrophic endometrium on ultrasound, hysteroscopy showed an endometrial pathology in 10% (16 polyps, 4 submucous myomas); in one patient histologic evaluation disclosed focal adenocarcinoma in an endometrial polyp. CONCLUSION: Hysteroscopy allows a proper histologic diagnosis, even in asymptomatic postmenopausal women with atrophic endometrium on ultrasound.     

Management of Asymptomatic Postmenopausal Women Referred to Outpatient Hysteroscopy Service with Incidental Finding of Thickened Endometrium – A UK District General Hospital Experience

Study ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to review the management and outcome of asymptomatic postmenopausal women with increased endometrial thickness as there is lack of robust guidance for the same.DesignRetrospective case series over a period of 2 years.SettingDistrict general hospital.PatientsEighty-three.InterventionsNo prospective interventions were done. Only a review of the interventions done in an outpatient setting, namely, hysteroscopy and endometrial sampling, was carried out.Measurements and Main ResultsRetrospective review of 1453 referrals to outpatient hysteroscopy service over a period of 2 years was carried out, and 83 patients referred with asymptomatic thickened endometrium on imaging were identified. Patients underwent hysteroscopy on the basis of the local policy, that is, if the endometrial thickness was more than 10 mm or in the presence of additional risk factors. The yield rate of endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia was 1.2% and 2.4%, respectively, among all patients (n = 83). The yield rate of endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia was 1.81% and 3.63%, respectively, among patients referred with endometrial thickness ≤10 mm after considering other risk factors.ConclusionIt is reasonable to use endometrial thickness of 10 mm or above as a cutoff threshold to offer endometrial biopsy or outpatient hysteroscopy for asymptomatic postmenopausal women. For asymptomatic women with endometrial thickness between 4 and 10 mm, decisions about further investigations should be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account any risk factors for endometrial pathology. As this study had a reasonably good sample size, it can contribute toward formulation of robust guidance for management of postmenopausal women with asymptomatic endometrial thickening.     

The significance of intrauterine lesions detected by ultrasound in asymptomatic postmenopausal patients

A retrospective study on 82 women with an incidental sonographic finding suspected to be intrauterine polyps was undertaken to assess the histopathologic characteristics of such polyps utilising operative hysteroscopy. Endometrial polyps were found in 68 patients, submucousal myomas in 7, atrophic endometrium in 6 and thickened proliferative endometrium was found in 1 patient. Simple hyperplasia was found in one polyp but neither endometrial carcinoma nor complex hyperplasia was found. The total complication rate was 3.6%. It appears that the risk of endometrial carcinoma in postmenopausal women with asymptomatic endometrial polyps is low, although a larger series is required to confirm this finding.     

Endometrial morphology in asymptomatic postmenopausal women

Few data are available regarding endometrial histologic features in asymptomatic perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. This study encompasses endometrial biopsy specimens obtained from 801 such women before enrollment in a multicenter study of estrogen-progestin replacement. One endometrial cancer was found (0.13%); four additional biopsy specimens showed atypia (total 0.63%). The endometrium was atrophic in 373 (46.9%), proliferative in 133 (16.7%), secretory in 54 (6.8%), and hyperplastic in 41 (5.2%). Insufficient tissue for diagnosis was obtained in 195 (24.5%). We conclude that the yield for neoplasia is so low that screening endometrial biopsy is not justified in asymptomatic perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.     

Endometrial sampling: When? Where? Why? With what?

Today, evaluating women with abnormal uterine bleeding generally is initiated in the office with an endometrial biopsy. The indications and contraindications for endometrial sampling along with situations which do not, per se, demand sampling are listed in Figure 1. In women younger than 40 years of age, it may be appropriate in some clinical situations to initiate hormonal therapy after an endocrine evaluation before endometrial sampling; however, with the newer sampling devices that cause minimal discomfort, a histologic evaluation can be performed easily. Furthermore, the endometrial biopsy may help to distinguish anovulatory from ovulatory bleeding and exclude a hyperplastic condition or carcinoma. If the patient does not respond to medical therapy, then hysteroscopy may identify endometrial polyps or submucosal myomas. Bleeding in postmenopausal women requires endometrial sampling. If a diagnosis of cancer can be made in the office, this will expedite treatment. For those cases in which, for technical reasons, it is impossible to do an office biopsy or in which an examination under anesthesia is necessary for evaluation, then a D&C is indicated. The refined technology of transvaginal ultrasonography and hysteroscopy in the future may influence more directly the evaluation of women with abnormal uterine bleeding. As noted, transvaginal ultrasonography may determine which women would benefit from an endometrial biopsy, both for symptomatic and asymptomatic women. Likewise, the hysteroscope, under certain circumstances, may help identify pathologic findings missed by endometrial biopsy and/or reassure the patient or physician that a negative biopsy is the result of an atrophic mucosa. Because of the increase in the use of hormonal therapy, both in postmenopausal women for replacement and in women with breast cancer as adjuvant therapy, endometrial sampling must be performed for screening. Follow-up for women with premalignant changes of the endometrium treated with hormones also would require sampling to assess response. The overwhelming arguments in favor of the accuracy of an office-based endometrial biopsy, the convenience to the patient and physician, and the cost containment have been established firmly in the literature. Office screening procedures will continue to play important roles in the diagnostic skills of the gynecologist.     

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.     

Transvaginal sonography of the endometrium in postmenopausal women

The purposes of this study were to compare transvaginal sonographic scanning of the uterus and endometrium with histology obtained by endometrial biopsy or curettage and to determine whether the sonographic technique might be useful in the evaluation of postmenopausal women. Eighty postmenopausal women were studied. Of these, 65 were asymptomatic (38 on no hormone therapy and 27 on hormone replacement). Fifteen women underwent evaluation because of postmenopausal bleeding. In both groups, endometrial thickness of 4 mm or less as depicted by sonography correlated well with endometrial characteristics of decreased estrogen stimulation. However, in women with measured endometrial thickness between 5-8 mm, proliferative endometrium could not be distinguished from hyperplastic endometrium or, in one case, low-grade carcinoma. Large polyps and invasive carcinoma with myometrial extension were easily recognized.