title: Sonohysterography is superior to transvaginal sonography for the diagnostic approach of irregular uterine bleeding in women of reproductive age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare the accuracy of transvaginal sonography (TVS) and sonohysterography (SHG) in the investigation of women of reproductive age presenting with irregular uterine bleeding (IUB).
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study included 104 women presenting with IUB. All patients underwent TVS, SHG, and hysteroscopy, during which endometrial biopsies were obtained and any endometrial mass was treated with hysteroscopic surgery. Statistical analysis was performed by calculating the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of TVS and SHG in diagnosing endometrial polyp, submucous myoma and all endometrial pathologies (polyp, submucous myoma, endometrial hyperplasia, and endometrial carcinoma) with the histopathological report of the tissues obtained by hysteroscopy serving as the end point for the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values, respectively of TVS were 61.2%, 90.9%, 85.7%, and 72.5% for diagnosing endometrial polyps; 75.0%, 92.0%, 63.1%, and 95.3% for diagnosing submucous myomas; and 75.0%, 80.6%, 87.9%, and 63.0% for diagnosing any kind of pathology. The corresponding diagnostic values of SHG were 83.7%, 96.4%, 95.3%, and 86.9% for polyps; 87.5%, 98.9%, 93.3%, and 97.8% for submucous myomas; and 88.2%, 91.7%, 95.2%, and 80.5% for any kind of pathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SHG showed superior sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values compared with TVS in diagnosing intrauterine lesions in women of reproductive age with IUB.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Aretaieion Hospital, Athens 11522 Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Botsis
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papagianni
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Makrakis
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aravantinos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Creatsas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008599:Menstruation Disturbances / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*