Evaluation of Endometrial Thickness by Transvaginal Sonography in Postmenopausal Women with Bleeding: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB), occurring atleast one year after menopause, is one of the most concerning complaints among gynaecological patients. Endometrial atrophy is the most common endometrial finding in women with Postmenopausal Bleeding (PMB), approximately 10-15% of whom have endometrial carcinoma. Earlier studies suggested that obesity, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are risk factors for endometrial hyperplasia. Diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hypertension form the triad of endometrial cancer. Aim: To assess endometrial thickness by Transvaginal Sonography (TVS) and compare it with histopathological findings in women with PMB, evaluating whether an endometrial thickness of <4 mm on TVS is more suggestive of malignancy. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at King George Hospital, Vishakapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, from January 2022 to December 2022, comprising n=100 subjects. After routine necessary investigations for PMB, a transvaginal ultrasound examination was carried out to calculate endometrial thickness and compare it with the results of histopathological diagnosis of the endometrium. The parameters assessed were endometrial thickness and appearance, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, and Body Mass Index (BMI). The data was compiled and compared using the Chi-square test, with a p-value of ≤0.05 considered highly significant. Results: The results showed normal atrophic and thickened endometrium in 36% of subjects each, and abnormal endometrium such as hyperplasia, carcinoma, and polyps were recorded in 14%, 8%, and 6% (n=6) of cases, respectively. The histopathological results showed normal endometrium such as atrophic, secretory, and proliferative endometrium in 49%, 6%, and 19% of subjects, respectively. Abnormal endometrial findings such as endometrial hyperplasia, carcinoma, and polyps were observed in 14%, 7%, and 5% of cases, respectively. The majority of cases (58%) had endometrial thickness ≤4 mm, followed by 36% of cases with 5-10 mm and 6% of cases >11 mm, with mean and Standard Deviation (SD) values of 5.8±3. mm Statistical analysis data on the association between TVS findings and Histopathological Examination (HPE) findings was observed to be statistically significant (p<0.001). A statistically significant association was observed between T2DM, and BMI >25 kg/m2 together, DM+hypertension+BMI (Triad) and endometrial thickness, respectively. Conclusion: The TVS is easy, simple, non invasive, and involves no complications. Therefore, it can be used as the first diagnostic step in the investigations of women with PMB, combined with histopathological assessment.