THE ROLE OF TRANSVAGINAL SONOGRAPHY AND H YSTEROSCOPY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF PERIMENOPAUSAL AND POSTMENOPAUSAL BLEEDING

Objective: Is it possible to reduce the rate of curettages by using ul trasound and hysteroscopy? Methods: Transvaginal sonography, hysterosc opy, and dilation and curettage were performed in 103 patients with me nometrorrhagia or postmenopausal bleeding. The patients were divided i nto three groups, depending on the ultrasound findings. Results: All 9 cases with cancer of the endometrium were found in group 3. 1 of the 9 carcinomas was not detected by hysteroscopy. Conclusions: We believe that dilation and curettage is necessary in symptomatic women with an endometrial thickness <4 as well as >4 mm. Prospective studies have t o clear the question of whether endometrial carcinomas can be detected by hysteroscopy in cases with an endometrium < 4 mm thick.