Accuracy of transvaginal ultrasonography compared to endometrial biopsy for the etiological diagnosis of abnormal perimenopausal bleeding

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Perimenopause is marked by clinical manifestations which disturb everyday life and which may also hide a pathomorphological, more precisely endometrial, substrate. An accurate early diagnosis established by accessible, non-invasive methods is very important for the therapeutic management. METHOD: The study included 103 patients aged between 41.5–55.11 years, divided into 3 age groups: 40–44 years (n=10), 45–49 years (n=54) and ≥50 years (n=39). RESULTS: Certain risk factors of endometrial neoplasm or premalignant conditions were evidenced, their accurate identification being useful in limiting the number of patients with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) submitted to diagnostic screening. The most common cause of AUB in our study was fibroma, followed by functional causes. CONCLUSIONS: Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) represents a minimally invasive method for the screening of perimenopausal patients with AUB, especially to rule out endometrial adenocarcinoma (EAC). TVUS sensitivity was higher than clinical diagnosis in case of leiomioma, polypi and EAC. TVUS was more accurate in the diagnosis of EAC, polypi and leiomioma.