title: Ultrasound, hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy in the investigation of endometrial cancer.
abstract: Over the course of the last two decades hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy has begun to replace dilation and curettage as the method of choice for the diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma. In the majority of women this can be performed as an outpatient procedure with no loss in diagnostic accuracy. Transvaginal ultrasound measurement of endometrial thickness provides a highly sensitive and less invasive alternative means of assessing the endometrium but has a low positive predictive value for cancer, especially in women taking hormone replacement therapy. The cut-off value used to define normality needs to take into account patient age and ethnic origin. Ultrasound screening may not be suitable for women taking tamoxifen and those with recurrent or late-onset abnormal uterine bleeding.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Development, University of Nottingham Faculty of Health Sciences, Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Derby City General Hospital, Uttoexeter Road, Derby, DE22 3NE, UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Symonds
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D013629:Tamoxifen