[The diagnostic value of hysteroscopy on postmenopausal bleeding].

The objectives of this study were to investigate the causes of postmenopausal bleeding and evaluate the diagnostic value of hysterscopy. Using the diagnostic technique of hysteroscopy and directed biopsies, the authors analysed the causes of postmenopausal bleeding of 234 patients undergoing hysteroscopy. The results showed that atrophic endometrium was the most common cause of postmenopausal bleeding and that endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial carcinoma/precancerous lesion, and submucous leiomyoma/endometrial polyp were also common in the patients with postmenopausal bleeding. The agreement rate between hysteroscopy and directed biopsies was 74.61%. In 234 cases of postmenopausal bleeding, the benign and malignant pathological changes were found in 76 and 27 cases respectively. In terms of age and menopause time, there were significant differences (chi 2 = 3.36, P < 0.01; chi 2 = 3.92, P < 0.01 respectively)between the patients with postmenopausal bleeding in the benign changes group and those in the malignant changes group. So the combined use of hysteroscopical technique and directed biopsies is of great significance in finding out the causes of postmenopausal bleeding, making a definite diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma and precancerous lesion, and further preventing the occurrence of endometrial carcinoma. The examination of hysteroscopy is an effective and valuable method for diagnosing postmenopausal bleeding.