title: Transvaginal ultrasonographic evaluation of the endometrium related to the histological findings in pre- and perimenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical usefulness of high-resolution transvaginal ultrasonography in pre- and perimenopausal women suspected to have endometrial pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  196 women, aged between 32 and 57 years, were referred to the outpatient clinic for a dilatation and curettage (D&C). In 81% the clinical indication was irregular vaginal bleedings. Before the D&C an examination with transvaginal ultrasonography was performed, and the endometrial thickness and texture were determined. The ultrasonographic results were later compared with the histological diagnosis obtained from the D&C specimen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ultrasonographically both normal and pathological endometrial changes could be detected, and 82% of the women had an endometrium characterized as normal. The endometrial phase determination correlated with the histological findings in approximately 50% of the women. Histologically 83% of the women had a normal endometrium. Endometrial hyperplasia was found in 12% and endometrial polyps in 4%. There were no malignancies found in this study. The hormone users (33% of the women) had no higher incidence of hyperplasias than non-users.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that transvaginal ultrasonography is as effective as the D&C for depicting the endometrium in pre- and perimenopausal women with irregular bleedings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bakos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heimer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D017697:Premenopause; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery