title: Vaginoscopic hysteroscopy and transvaginal sonography in the evaluation of patients with abnormal uterine bleeding.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare accuracy of vaginoscopic hysteroscopy, a new method of outpatient hysteroscopy, with that of transvaginal sonography in diagnosing intracavitary pathology in women with abnormal uterine bleeding.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective comparative study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of gynecology in a tertiary care university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred ninety-seven consecutive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vaginoscopic hysteroscopy, transvaginal sonography, and histologic evaluation of endometrium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings at hysteroscopy and sonography were compared with histopathologic results, considered the gold standard diagnosis. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were 92%, 95%, 18.4, and 0.08 for vaginoscopic hysteroscopy and 67%, 87%, 5.15, and 0.38 for transvaginal sonography, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vaginoscopic hysteroscopy is quick and well tolerated, and more accurate in detecting intracavitary uterine pathology than transvaginal sonography. More research is required to determine its place in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding, especially premenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Opl. Poutetsi 2, 45332 Ioannina University Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paschopoulos
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Lolis
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Alamanos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Koliopoulos
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paraskevaidis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008796:Metrorrhagia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis; D014621:Vagina