Investigating women with postmenopausal bleeding: The utility of endometrial thickness in transvaginal ultrasound

Dinesh Palipana*, Igor Fomin, Elsa Russell, Brian Chan, Chad Wong, Erick Chan, Debbie Ho, Graeme Walker

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background:
Australian clinical guidelines recommend further investigation in females with postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) and endometrial thickness (ET) of ≥4 mm on transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS). However, the literature indicates that an ET of ≥3 mm as an upper limit is a more sensitive predictor of endometrial malignancy (EM) in females with PMB.

Aims:
To assess whether Australian guidelines for PMB with an upper limit of 4 mm ET on ultrasound investigation, is sensitive enough for malignancy detection.

Material and Methods:
A retrospective study was performed on tissue results in PMB presentations to the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service between 2011 and 2015.

Results:
Twenty point nine percent of women with PMB had a malignancy. With an upper limit of 4 mm in ET on ultrasound, malignancy was present in 22% of participants. [Correction added on 10 July 2020, after first online publication: percentage of women with PMB that had a malignancy has been amended to twenty point nine percent.].

Conclusions:
A limit of 3 mm for ET in PMB, along with office endometrial biopsy, should be considered to ensure timely diagnoses.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)773-775
Number of pages3
JournalAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Volume60
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2020
Externally publishedYes

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