[Diagnostic value of endometrial assessment by transvaginal ultrasonography in patients with postmenopausal bleeding].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the value of endometrial transvaginal sonography in diagnosis of patients with postmenopausal bleeding.

METHODS

High resolution transvaginal ultrasonographic examination was performed in 192 patients with postmenopausal bleeding before fractional uterine curettage. The results of endometrial sonogram were compared with endometrial histological findings.

RESULTS

Seventy-seven cases had endometrial thickness < or = 4mm. 74 of them (96.1%) showed physiological changes by pathological examination. Only 3 were endometrial cancer. In contrast, in 115 patients who had endometrial thickness > or = 5mm, 59 (51.3%) had endometrial cancer.

CONCLUSION

Transvaginal ultrasonography may be used as a screening procedure in patients with postmenopausal bleeding. Diagnostic uterine curettage may be avoided in patients who had endometrial thickness < or = 4mm.