The contribution of hysteroscopy to the detection malignancy in symptomatic postmenopausal women

Abstract

Hysteroscopic evaluation of endometrial cavity is widely used in cases of abnormal uterine bleeding. The aim of the present study is to compare the hysteroscopic and histological findings in women suffering from postmenopausal bleeding. Between 1990 and 2009, 425 women aged 47-83 years were included in the study. None of the women had received hormonal therapy or had any malignancy in the past. All women underwent diagnostic hysteroscopy and histologic sampling of the endometrial cavity. Hysteroscopy was successfully completed in 423 women and was suggestive of malignant lesions in 23 cases, which were confirmed histologically. The hysteroscopic findings in three cases were suggestive of atrophic endometrium, atypical hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma, and the histologic diagnosis confirmed endometrial carcinoma (two cases) and one uterine sarcoma. Hysteroscopy proves to be a safe and effective technique in the diagnosis and management of abnormal uterine bleeding.