TRANSVAGINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF THE ENDOMETRIUM RELATED TO THE HISTOLOGICAL-FINDINGS IN PREMENOPAUSAL AND PERIMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Objective: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of high-resolution tran svaginal ultrasonography in pre-and perimenopausal women suspected to have endometrial pathology. Patients and Methods: 196 women, aged betw een 32 and 57 years, were referred to the outpatient clinic for a dila tation and curettage (D&C). In 81% the clinical indication was irregul ar vaginal bleedings. Before the D&C an examination with transvaginal ultrasonography was performed, and the endometrial thickness and textu re were determined. The ultrasonographic results were later compared w ith the histological diagnosis obtained from the D&C specimen. Results : Ultrasonographically both normal and pathological endometrial change s could be detected, and 82% of the women had an endometrium character ized as normal. The endometrial phase determination correlated with th e histological findings in approximately 50% of the women. Histologica lly 83% of the women had a normal endometrium. Endometrial hyperplasia was found in 12% and endometrial polyps in 4%. There were no malignan cies found in this study. The hormone users (33% of the women) had no higher incidence of hyperplasias than non-users. Conclusion: Our data indicate that transvaginal ultrasonography is as effective as the D&C for depicting the endometrium in pre- and perimenopausal women with ir regular bleedings.