A systematic review of transvaginal ultrasonography, sonohysterography and hysteroscopy for the investigation of abnormal uterine bleeding in premenopausal women.
BACKGROUND
To determine the accuracy of transvaginal ultrasonography, sonohysterography and diagnostic hysteroscopy for the investigation of abnormal uterine bleeding in premenopausal women.


METHODS
Systematic review of common diagnostic imaging tests.


METHODS
Relevant papers were identified through electronic searching of MEDLINE (1980 to July 2001) and EMBASE (1980 to July 2001) and manual searching of a bibliography of primary and review articles.


METHODS
Studies were selected if accuracy of transvaginal ultrasonography, sonohysterography and diagnostic hysteroscopy was compared with a reference standard and included data that could be abstracted into a two-by-two table in order to calculate sensitivity and specificity. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed by at least two independent reviewers. Diagnostic accuracy was determined by calculating positive and negative likelihood ratios for all intrauterine pathologies, submucous fibroids and endometrial hyperplasia.


RESULTS
Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Statistically significant heterogeneity was present between the likelihood ratios for studies of transvaginal ultrasound. A positive test result with sonohysterography diagnosed submucous fibroids with a pooled likelihood ratio of 29.7 (17.8, 49.6). A positive test result with hysteroscopy diagnosed submucous fibroids with a pooled likelihood ratio of 29.4 (13.4, 65.3), and any intrauterine pathology with a pooled likelihood ratio of 7.7 (4.3, 13.7). A negative test result with hysteroscopy for diagnosing any intrauterine pathology had a pooled likelihood ratio of 0.07 (0.04, 0.15).


CONCLUSIONS
Although there was considerable variability present between the studies, all three diagnostic tests were moderately accurate in detecting intrauterine pathology. However, sonohysterography and hysteroscopy performed better than transvaginal ultrasound in detecting submucous fibroids.
Farquhar
Cynthia
C
Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National Women's Hospital, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. c.farquhar@auckland.ac.nz
Ekeroma
Alec
A
Furness
Susan
S
Arroll
Bruce
B
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy; D017697:Premenopause; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014621:Vagina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging