Abstract
Objective: We evaluated the introduction of transvaginal sonography and measuring endometrial thickness into cervical cancer screening and determined how frequently endometrial diseases, including endometrial cancer, were detected.
Methods: Among 4,794 postmenopausal, asymptomatic women undergoing cervical cancer screening, 37 with an endometrial thickness of 5 mm or more measured by transvaginal sonography, were selected for final diagnosis of endometrial diseases. Final diagnoses were achieved in 30 women, either by repeated transvaginal sonography, endometrial cytology, endometrial biopsy, hysteroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging or by serum estradiol measurement, depending on the judgment of the attending gynecologists.
Results: The diagnoses were: 1 case of endometrial cancer, 1 case of endometrial hypertrophy, 3 cases of endometrial polyp, 2 case of endometrial hypertrophy due to coexistent uterine fibroid, 1 case of hydrometra, 15 cases of negative endometrial cytology, and 7 cases of negative endometrial pathology. The responses of examinees to an anonymous questionnaire on the topics of pain, bleeding, time required, shortness and simplicity of explanation of sonograms obtained by transvaginal sonography, especially for elderly visitors, and acceptability of transvaginal sonography, were favorable.
Conclusion: The measurement of endometrial thickness in postmenopausal, asymptomatic women by means of transvaginal sonography is clinically useful because it provides a basis for the discovery of endometrial diseases.
