Asymptomatic postmenopausal endometrial thickening: a comparison between transvaginal ultrasound and hysteroscopy in the diagnosis of intracavitary uterine pathologies

ABSTARCT
Objective. The aim of the study was to identify the cut-off of endometrial thickening for the early suspicion of malignancy and to demonstrate the superiority of hysteroscopy over ultrasound in the diagnosis of asymptomatic intracavitary uterine pathologies.
Patients and Methods. 105 women in menopausal state with endometrial thickening > 4 mm and without any symptoms were recruited. The patients then underwent hysteroscopy and received biopsy. The cut-off value for ultrasonography-measured endometrial thickening above which it would be possible to raise a more likely suspect of malignancy is 8 mm. Moreover, the single benign polyp is the most prevalent intracavitary uterine pathology.
Results. There isn’t a statistically significant correlation between finding a homogeneous endometrial thickening upon ultrasonography and the presence of a benign polyp.
Conclusions. Hysteroscopy has to be considered the gold standard diagnostic exam.