Risk of endometrial cancer in asymptomatic postmenopausal patients with thickened endometrium: data from the FAME-Endo study: an observational register study

Purpose

To evaluate the risk for endometrial cancer (EC) in a large series of asymptomatic patients with thickened endometrium at ultrasound examination based on previously published data of a theoretical cohort.

Methods

In a prospective register study, a total of 1024 women with thickened endometrium in ultrasound examination undergoing histological diagnosis by dilation, hysteroscopy and curettage were evaluated. 124 patients were excluded due to current medication with tamoxifen and/or presence of HNPCC leaving 900 patients for further analysis.

Results

Mean [standard deviation (SD)] age of patients was 65.6 (8.6) years. Mean (SD) endometrial thickness was 11.9 (5.8) mm. 32 and 6 cases of EC and complex endometrial hyperplasia with atypia were found, respectively. In the univariate analysis, a statistically significant association between endometrial thickness, current use of antihypertensive medication, number of deliveries, and the presence of endometrial fluid in preoperative vaginal ultrasound (p?<?0.05) with EC was found. A multivariate logistic regression model incorporating these parameters showed a statistically significant independent association of endometrial thickness, number of deliveries, and the presence of endometrial fluid in preoperative vaginal ultrasound (p?<?0.05), but not current use of antihypertensive medication, with EC. Using a cut-off of the endometrial thickness of?>?11 mm, the risk for “EC alone” and “EC and complex endometrial hyperplasia with atypia combined” was found to be 6.7% and 7.9%, respectively.

Conclusions

Our data compare favorably to a theoretical cohort suggesting a clinically reasonable cut-off of?>?11 mm endometrial thickness to discriminate between “normal” and “pathological”. The data regarding “risk for endometrial cancer” can be used for counseling affected women.

     

Synchronous primary cancers of the endometrium and ovary in young women: A Korean Gynecologic Oncology Group Study

Objective

Some authors have recommended the use of diagnostic laparoscopy as a pretreatment assessment step for conservative hormonal treatment in young women with endometrial cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of synchronous primary cancer of the endometrium and ovary in young women.

Methods

The medical records of 3240 patients with endometrial cancer who underwent primary surgery between 1995 and 2010 were collected from 7 institutions and were retrospectively reviewed. Low-risk endometrial cancer was defined as tumors without myometrial invasion; normal or benign-looking ovaries; normal CA-125; grade 1 endometrioid histology; and early stage endometrial cancer on pretreatment assessment.

Results

Fifteen percent (471/3240) were younger than 40 years of age. The incidence of synchronous ovarian cancer in young women with endometrial cancer was 4.5% (21/471). In patients with low-risk endometrial cancer, synchronous cancers were not identified.

Conclusion

The incidence of synchronous ovarian malignancies in young women with endometrial cancer was quiet low (4.5%), unlike previous studies have revealed (11–29%). Therefore, diagnostic laparoscopy is not mandatory in patients with low-risk early stage endometrial cancer selected for conservative treatment to confirm the absence of ovarian malignancy.     

Non-assessable endometrium in women with post-menopausal bleeding: to investigate or ignore

Background

In women presenting with post-menopausal bleeding (PMB), the incidence of endometrial cancer is 1–10 %; Trans-vaginal scan (TVS) is offered as the first line of investigation to triage women further and a thick endometrium (>4 mm) merits endometrial tissue sampling for further evaluation. When it is difficult and not possible to assess the endometrium sonographically, decision to investigate further lies with the clinician.

Aim

Study outcomes for women with PMB and endometrium not assessable on TVS.

Methods

We collected data retrospectively between September 2007 and December 2010. We identified our study group from the radiology database. Data collected include ultrasound findings, methods of endometrial sampling, and the result of cytology/histology.

Results

In our study period of 40 months, 671 women with post-menopausal bleeding were referred to the ultrasound department for TVS to assess endometrial thickness. 92 % (614/671) women had the assessment. In 57 women (8 %), endometrial thickness was not assessable and this formed our study group. 3/57 records were not retrievable and excluded from our study. 43/54 (79 %) had some form of endometrial sampling done. Among the 81 % adequate samples (35/43), 7 (20 %) had endometrial cancer; 1 (3 %) had CAH, 1 (3 %) was diagnosed with cervical cancer. In women who had thickened endometrium (>4 mm; n = 448), there were 29 cases of endometrial cancers detected giving an incidence of 6.4 %. In women with PMB and non-assessable endometrial thickness, there is increased incidence of endometrial cancer when compared to the group where endometrial thickness could be measured. (Odds ratio = 3.3 [95 % CI = 1.2–9]). This is a statistically (p = 0.017) and clinically significant finding.

Conclusion

In women with PMB, there will be a subgroup in which ultrasound cannot assess endometrial thickness. When compared to women where endometrial thickness is measurable, this group stands a higher risk of endometrial cancer and hysteroscopy/ hysterosonography with endometrial sampling is recommended in this group.     

Role of hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy in women with unexplained infertility

Objectives

This study was designed to evaluate the role of hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy in women with unexplained infertility.

Patients and methods

Women with unexplained infertility were included in this prospective study, evaluated with transvaginal sonography and diagnostic hysteroscopy. Diagnostic hysteroscopy was performed between the 7th and 11th day of the cycle. The criteria for hysteroscopic findings were based on the cervical canal, uterine cavity, endometrium, visualization of the ostium tubae and lesions of the utero-tubal junction. After the hysteroscopic examination, endometrial biopsy was performed using a Pipelle^® endometrial suction curette. Patients were classified according to the hysteroscopy results into four groups: patients with no abnormality detected (14), patients with cervical abnormalities (six), patients with endometrial abnormalities (73) and patients with uterine abnormalities (seven).

Results

One hundred women with unexplained infertility were included. All patients underwent diagnostic hysteroscopy, except for seven patients: six patients had stenotic external or internal cervical ostium and one had inadequate visualization as the uterine cavity was filled with blood. Based on hysteroscopic findings, 31 patients were finally diagnosed with endometrial polyps; 14 endometritis; 15 endometrial hyperplasia; six submucous myomas; seven intrauterine synechiae (73 cases = endometrial abnormalities group); seven congenital uterine anomalies (uterine abnormalities group), six cervical stenosis (cervical abnormalities group) and 14 women without any uterine abnormalities (no abnormalities group). Analysis of samples obtained using the Pipelle^® endometrial suction curette was non-diagnostic in 16 cases; the most common endometrial pathological feature detected by this analysis was endometritis (15 %).

Conclusions

Routine hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy should be used as a basic part of the work-up for women with unexplained infertility.     

Expression of human β-defensin-2 in the eutopic and ectopic endometrial tissues in patients with endometriosis

Objective

To investigate the expression of human β-defensin-2 (hBD-2) in the endometrium of patients with endometriosis (EMS) and explore the potential role of hBD-2 in the pathogenesis of EMS.

Design

Prospective controlled study.

Sample

50 women including EMS patients undergoing laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy and non-EMS patients undergoing hysterectomy for uterine fibroids.

Setting

Large university teaching hospital.

Methods

Patients were divided into EMS and non-EMS groups. The gene expressions of hBD-2, interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the endometrial tissues of each group were detected with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and hBD-2 protein expression with immunohistochemical method.

Results

The gene expression levels of hBD-2, TNF-α, and IL-1β as well as the positive expression rate of hBD-2 protein in the ectopic endometrium of EMS patients were significantly higher than those in the eutopic endometrium of EMS and non-EMS patients (all P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the gene expression levels of hBD-2 in the ectopic and eutopic endometrium of EMS patients were positively correlated with the gene expression levels of IL-1β and TNF-α (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

High levels of hBD-2 gene and protein expressions in the ectopic endometrium of EMS patients may be an important contributor in the pathogenesis of EMS. TNF-α and IL-1β may promote the upregulation of hBD-2 expression.     

c-Kit proto-oncogene expression in endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer

Purpose

To evaluate the expression of c-kit (CD117) in endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer.

Methods

Expression of c-kit in 10 normal endometrium, 18 simple endometrial hyperplasia, 16 complex endometrial hyperplasia (10 cases with atypia and 6 cases without atypia), and 6 endometrial cancer were investigated by immunohistochemistry.

Results

c-Kit expression decreased as the lesion progressed to endometrial cancer. Immunostaining was mostly focal and weak in the normal endometrium and was mostly diffuse and strong in the simple and complex endometrial hyperplasia.

Conclusions

Simple and complex hyperplastic endometrial tissues express diffuse cytoplasmic staining for c-kit and the expression decreases with the progression of the lesion.     

Annual outpatient hysteroscopy and endometrial sampling (OHES) in HNPCC/Lynch syndrome (LS)

Background

LS women have a 40–60?% lifetime risk of endometrial cancer (EC). Most international guidelines recommend screening. However, data on efficacy are limited.

Purpose

To assess the performance of OHES for EC screening in LS and compare it with transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) alone.

Methods

A prospective observational cohort study of LS women attending a tertiary high-risk familial gynaecological cancer clinic was conducted. LS women opting for EC screening underwent annual OHES and TVS. Histopathological specimens were processed using a strict protocol. Data of women screened between October 2007 and March 2010 were analysed from a bespoke database. Histology was used as the gold standard. Diagnostic accuracy of OHES was compared with TVS using specificity, and positive (PLR) and negative (NLR) likelihood ratios.

Results

Forty-one LS women underwent 69 screens (41 prevalent, 28 incident). Four (three prevalent, one incident) women were detected to have EC/atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH), five had endometrial polyps and two had endometrial hyperplasia (EH) on OHES. TVS detected two of four EC/AEH. OHES had similar specificity of 89.8?% (CI 79.2, 96.2?%), but higher PLR 9.8 (CI 4.6, 21) and lower NLR (zero) compared to TVS: specificity 84.75?%(CI 73, 92.8?%), PLR 3.28 (CI 1.04, 10.35) and NLR 0.59 (CI 0.22, 1.58). No interval cancers occurred over a median follow-up of 22?months. The annual incidence was 3.57?% (CI 0.09, 18.35) for EC, 10.71?% (CI 2.27, 28.23) for polyps and 21.4?% (CI 8.3, 40.1) for any endometrial pathology.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that in LS, annual OHES is acceptable and has high diagnostic accuracy for EC/AEH screening. Larger international studies are needed for confirmation, given the relatively small numbers of LS women at individual centres. It reinforces the current recommendation that endometrial sampling is crucial when screening these women.     

Comparing the efficacy of intrauterine lidocaine and paracervical block in decreasing the pain associated with endometrial biopsy: a randomised trial

Purpose

Almost 50 % of the patients experience moderate-to-severe pain during endometrial biopsy. The study aimed to examine the effectiveness of intrauterine lidocaine for relieving pain during endometrial biopsy.

Methods

A randomised trial was conducted in 120 patients undergoing endometrial biopsy. Sixty-seven women were assigned to the paracervical block group and 53 were assigned to the intrauterine lidocaine group. The main outcome measure was pain intensity, measured using the visual analogue scale, during and after the procedure.

Results

The groups were similar with regard to age, body mass index, gravidity, total number of previous vaginal deliveries, menopausal status, and uterine depth. The pain scores immediately after the procedure were similar in the groups (p = 0.079). However, the pain scores 30 min after the procedure were significantly lower in the intrauterine group than in the paracervical group (p = 0.0001).

Conclusions

Compared to paracervical block, intrauterine lidocaine may be the preferred anaesthesia for endometrial biopsy, and it does not cause any serious complications.     

Changes in endometrial receptivity in women with Asherman’s syndrome undergoing hysteroscopic adhesiolysis

Objective

To determine whether there is any improvement in the endometrial receptivity in infertile women with Asherman??s syndrome undergoing hysteroscopic adhesiolysis.

Materials and methods

This was a prospective observational clinical analysis of 40 infertile patients who underwent hysteroscopic adhesiolysis for Asherman??s syndrome in a tertiary level hospital. Endometrial thickness and blood flow impedance of the uterine spiral artery by transvaginal color pulsed Doppler ultrasound was measured post-menstrual on day 2/3 and post-menstrual on day 21 pre- and post-hysteroscopic adhesiolysis or at a randomly chosen time in patients with amenorrhea.

Results

The age of the patients was 18?C36?years (mean 29.2?years). The mean duration of infertility was 6.9?years. There were 27 (67.5?%) women with primary infertility and 13 (32.5?%) had secondary infertility. 22 (55?%) women had had genital tuberculosis in the past. A significant improvement in the endometrial thickness was observed on day 2 (p?p?p?Conclusions A significant improvement in the endometrial thickness was observed post-adhesiolysis. A high blood flow impedance of spiral artery perhaps impairs growth of the endometrium making it unsuitable for successful implantation.     

Recurrence patterns and surveillance for patients with early stage endometrial cancer

Introduction

To evaluate the recurrence patterns and the clinical and economic role of surveillance with vaginal cytology in women with low risk endometrial cancer.

Methods

Patients undergoing primary surgery with final pathology consistent with a grade 1 endometrial cancer confined to the endometrium (FIGO 1988 stage IA) between 9/1997–12/2007 were retrospectively identified. Follow-up data for at least 2 years was also collected, including diagnosis of a recurrence, symptomatology at that time, and method of detection. Costs for vaginal cytology were estimated using Medicare charge-to-cost ratios adjusted to 2010 costs.

Results

One hundred fifty-four patients met study inclusion criteria. The mean age was 54.4 years and the mean follow-up was 46.9 months. Four recurrences were detected, occurring 16–73 months after the initial diagnosis. During a scheduled visit, one patient was found to have an asymptomatic vaginal cuff recurrence, detected on physical examination. The remaining three cases were diagnosed at an unscheduled visit after the presence of symptoms (vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, shortness of breath) prompted further evaluation. In all, cytology detected no cases of recurrence and the estimated cost associated with cytology alone for all patients over the study time frame was approximately $7,760 per year.

Conclusions

Patients with grade 1 endometrial cancer confined to the endometrium have a low risk of recurrence (2.6%) and were detected on clinical findings alone. Emphasis should be placed on counseling patients on symptoms of recurrence and performing a thorough physical examination. The elimination of vaginal cytology for this select group of patients may be appropriate and result in a significant reduction in health care costs.     

Molecular evaluation of proliferative-phase endometrium may provide insight about the underlying causes of infertility in women with endometriosis

Purpose

To determine if endometrial gene expression is different in women with endometriosis-related infertility and fertile women.

Methods

Prospective study of mid-follicular phase endometrium in 47 subjects in two phases: microarray study of 10 infertile women with endometriosis and five fertile controls, and a quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) study of 27 infertile women with endometriosis and 15 fertile controls. Gene expression was determined by DNA microarray, and qRT-PCR used for 12 “promising” genes based on the microarray analysis.

Results

Compared to fertile controls, women with stage I–II endometriosis had 23, and women with stage III–IV had 35 genes that were significantly up- or down-regulated by microarray. However, using qRT-PCR, only chemokine ligand (CXCL) 13 was significantly down-regulated and somatostatin was significantly up-regulated with early endometriosis, and only CXCL 14 was significantly down-regulated with advanced endometriosis compared to fertile controls.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that the pattern of gene expression in proliferative-phase endometrium is different when comparing tissue from patients with endometriosis versus fertile controls. Recognition of these endometrial alterations could be helpful to diagnose and stage endometriosis, and may provide insight to explain why conception rates are low in women with endometriosis.     

Laparoscopic and laparotomic approaches for endometrial cancer treatment: a comprehensive review

Objective

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological malignancy in the developed world, particularly among postmenopausal women. Endoscopic surgery is gaining more popularity among surgeons as a safe and feasible option for treatment of endometrial carcinoma, providing the possibility of adequate lymph node excision.

Methods

A comprehensive review.

Results

The advantages of laparoscopy prevail over laparotomy and authors report lower peri-operative complication rates, less blood loss, lower transfusion rates, and shorter hospital stay, as well as a better quality of life (QoL) after laparoscopic surgery, in contrast to conventional abdominal surgery. This was confirmed by a meta-analysis of four randomized controlled studies. This is also true for obese risky patients to whom laparotomies carry indolent side effects. In addition, with more training and experience this procedure would be even more feasible and safer.

Conclusions

Because of the increasing importance of economic efficiency in health care, the endoscopic approach will continue to play a more important role in the future treatment of EC providing a better treatment option for the coming patients. As a promising therapeutical option, it should be offered to all patients with an early-stage EC.     

The diagnostic and prognostic value of serum YKL-40 in endometrial cancer

Purpose

To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of serum YKL-40 in endometrial cancer (EC).

Methods

Serum YKL-40 levels were detected and compared in 34 of the 50 cases with EC before surgery, in 22 of the 34 with EC after surgery, in 30 cases with uterine myoma, and in 30 healthy women as normal controls. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were adopted for diagnosis and calculation of area under each ROC curve in EC. The progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between YKL-40 positive and negative patients were compared in the follow-up.

Results

The mean pre-operative serum YKL-40 values were significantly higher than that in the uterine myoma cases and in the healthy women (P = 0.000). The mean post-operative serum YKL-40 in the 22 EC cases was significantly lower than pre-operative serum YKL-40 levels in these cases (P = 0.000). There were critical differences between the area under ROC curve for YKL-40 and CA125 (P = 0.053). The PFS and OS for the YKL-40-positive patients were significantly shorter than those for the YKL-40-negative patients.

Conclusion

Preliminary investigations have shown that serum YKL-40 level may have a definite clinical value in the diagnosis and prognosis of EC.     

Study of Endometrial Pathology in Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Introduction

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is the commonest presenting symptom in gynaecology out-patient department. Endometrial sampling could be effectively used as the first diagnostic step in AUB, although at times, its interpretation could be quite challenging to the practicing pathologists. This study was done to evaluate histopathology of endometrium for identifying the endometrial causes of AUB. We also tried to observe the incidence of various pathology in different age groups presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding.

Material and Methods

This was a study done at Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, India on 620 patients who presented with AUB from June 2005–June 2006. Out of which 409 cases of isolated endometrial lesions diagnosed on histopathology were selected for the final analyses. A statistical analysis between age of presentation and specific endometrial causes was done using χ² test.

Results

The most common age group presenting with AUB was 41–50 years (33.5%). The commonest pattern in these patients was normal cycling endometrium (28.4%). The commonest pathology irrespective of the age group was disordered proliferative pattern (20.5%). Other causes identified were complications of pregnancy (22.7%), benign endometrial polyp (11.2%), endometrial hyperplasias (6.1%), carcinomas (4.4%) and chronic endometritis (4.2%). Endometrial causes of AUB and age pattern was statistically significant with P value <0.05.

Conclusion

There is an age specific association of endometrial lesions. In perimenopausal women AUB is most commonly dysfunctional in origin and in reproductive age group, one should first rule out complications of pregnancy. The incidence of disordered proliferative pattern was significantly high in this study, suggesting an early presentation of these patients.     

Role of endometrial power Doppler ultrasound using the international endometrial tumor analysis group classification in predicting intrauterine pathology

Purpose

To assess the contribution of the terms and definitions recently described by international endometrial tumor analysis (IETA) group when evaluating endometrial lesions on power Doppler imaging.

Methods

Patients requiring endometrial sampling were examined prospectively by transvaginal B-mode and power Doppler sonography (PDS) the day before scheduled diagnostic procedure. Sonographic features were classified using IETA group classification. These were compared with the final histopathological diagnosis.

Results

Ninety-seven patients were included in the study. The histopathological diagnoses were as follows: endometrial polyp: 39 cases (40.2 %), endometrial hyperplasia: 9 cases (9.3 %), submucous myoma: 10 cases (10.3 %), endometrium cancer: 7 cases (7.2 %), non-specific findings: 32 cases (33 %). The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values for single dominant or branching single dominant vessel pattern in diagnosing endometrial polyps were 66.67, 98.28, 96.3 and 81.43 %; for multiple vessels with focal origin pattern in diagnosing endometrial cancer, they were 42.86, 91.11, 27.27 and 95.35 %; for multifocal origin at the myometrial–endometrial junction in diagnosing other non-specific endometria, they were 81.25, 89.23, 78.79 and 90.62 %; for scattered vessel pattern in diagnosing endometrial hyperplasia, they were 88.89, 88.64, 44.4 and 98.73 % and for circular flow pattern in diagnosing submucosal fibroids, they were 80, 100, 100 and 97.75 %, respectively. The color score of the endometrium was not statistically different among different endometrial pathologies (P value >0.05).

Conclusion

The nomenclature described by IETA group for power Doppler assessment of the endometrium is clinically valuable and reasonable. Using this terminology, it will be easier to compare results of different studies on endometrial Doppler sonography in the future.     

Histopathological findings of endometrial specimens in abnormal uterine bleeding

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of different histopathological findings obtained from dilatation and curettage (D&C) specimens in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB).

Methods

In a retrospective review of 591 specimens, the included subjects were all women with AUB who underwent D&C between 2002 and 2006 in Be’sat Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The pathological diagnoses were analyzed in four groups from normal to malignant endometrium. The pathological groups were evaluated for patients’ characteristics including demographic data and medical history.

Results

The majority of patients (61.6 %) were in the 41–50 year age group. Totally, 81.4 % of patients had normal pathology. The disordered proliferative endometrium/polyps, hyperplasia, and malignant pathology were found in 15.4, 2.5, and 0.7 % of specimens, respectively. The abnormal pathologies were seen more among patients with postmenopausal status, nulli-/primigravid women, and those with hypertension, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovary syndrome.

Conclusions

The proliferative endometrium and secretory endometrium were the most common histopathological observations in AUB patients in our region, and except normal endometrium, disordered proliferative endometrium was the most common cause of AUB.     

Impact of obesity on the results of fertility-sparing management for atypical hyperplasia and grade 1 endometrial cancer

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of obesity on reproductive and oncologic outcomes on the success of fertility-sparing management.

Methods

This retrospective multicenter cohort study included women treated conservatively for atypical hyperplasia (AH) and endometrial cancer (EC) to preserve fertility. Five inclusion criteria were defined: (i) the presence of AH or grade 1 EC confirmed by two pathologists; (ii) adequate radiological examination before conservative management; (iii) available body mass index (BMI) at the beginning of treatment; and (iv) a minimum follow-up time of six months.

Results

Forty patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria (17 had EC, and 23 had AH), mean age and BMI were 33 years and 29 kg/m² respectively. Among the 15 obese patients, after medical treatment, 10 patients responded (67%) and three relapsed, whereas in the 25 non-obese patients, 19 responded (76%) and three relapsed (p = 0.72). The overall pregnancy rate and follow-up time were 35% and 35 months respectively. Among the 15 obese patients, after medical treatment, two patients became pregnant, whereas in the 25 non-obese patients, 12 became pregnant (p = 0.04).

Conclusion

Despite similar response and recurrence rates, our results suggest that fertility-sparing management for AH and EC is associated with a lower probability of pregnancy in obese patients.     

Outcome of investigations for postmenopausal vaginal bleeding in women under the age of 50 years

Objective

The objective of this study is to determine the incidence of endometrial cancer in young postmenopausal women presenting with vaginal bleeding.

Methods

Cross-sectional study of postmenopausal women presenting with vaginal bleeding in a gynaecological oncology centre in the United Kingdom. All women underwent transvaginal ultrasound scanning (TVS) as the initial investigation tool to evaluate the endometrium. Endometrial biopsy was performed only in cases where endometrial thickness measured equal to or greater than 5 mm. The patients were divided into two groups based on their age: less than 50 years (Group A) and 50 years or older (Group B).

Results

Over a 57-month period, 4454 women were investigated for postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. Of these, 259 (5.8%) women were diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma. 260 (5.8%) women were younger than 50 years. Endometrial biopsy was not performed in 130 women in Group A that had an endometrial thickness measurement of less than 5 mm on ultrasonography. With a median follow-up period of 3 (1-5) years, we found no cases of endometrial cancer in women under the age of 50 that did not undergo endometrial biopsy at the time of initial evaluation. Overall, no cases of endometrial cancer were diagnosed in postmenopausal women under the age of 50 years.

Conclusions

We found no cases of endometrial cancer amongst 260 women presenting with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding under the age of 50 years. These women could be investigated on a less urgent basis depending on the available resources.