Transvaginal ultrasonography and the progestogen challenge test in postmenopausal endometrial evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the morphologic and ultrasonographic aspects of the endometrium of postmenopausal women according to the progestogen challenge test.


METHODS
The study was conducted on 150 postmenopausal women. Each patient was submitted to transvaginal ultrasonography for measurement of endometrial echo thickness and to endometrial biopsies, followed by the progestogen challenge test.


RESULTS
Women with a negative test presented atrophic endometrium in 94% of cases. The other 6% have shown active endometrium, but none had hyperplasia. However, 56% of the patients with a positive test had atrophic endometrium. There was a correlation between endometrial thickness less than 5 mm and endometrial atrophy in patients with either positive or negative tests.


CONCLUSIONS
Because the progestogen challenge test is cheap and easy to deal with, it can be done as a primary screening method in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. If the test is positive, ultrasonography is required in order to determine who needs a more accurate examination of the endometrium. If the test is negative, ultrasonography is not required due to the great number of women who have atrophic endometrium.
Bortoletto
C C
CC
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Baracat
E C
EC
Gonçalves
W J
WJ
Lima
G R
GR
Stávale
J N
JN
D001284:Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D004717:Endometrium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography
D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate