Risk of endometrial cancer and endometrial hyperplasia with atypia in asymptomatic postmenopausal women with endometrial thickness ≥11 mm: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Guideline No. 451: Asymptomatic Endometrial Thickening in Postmenopausal Women

OBJECTIVE

To formulate strategies for clinical assessments for endometrial thickening on ultrasound in a postmenopausal woman without bleeding.

TARGET POPULATION

Postmenopausal women of any age.

OUTCOMES

To reduce unnecessary invasive interventions and investigations in women with asymptomatic endometrial thickening while selectively investigating women at risk for endometrial cancer.

BENEFITS, HARMS, AND COSTS

It is anticipated that the adoption of these recommendations would save postmenopausal women unnecessary anxiety, pain, and risk of procedural complications. It is also expected to decrease the cost to the health care system by eliminating unnecessary interventions.

EVIDENCE

English language articles from Medline, Cochrane, and PubMed databases for relevant peer-reviewed articles dating from 1995 to 2022 (e.g., asymptomatic endometrial thickness, endometrial cancer, postmenopausal bleeding, transvaginal ultrasound, endometrial biopsy, cervical stenosis, hormone therapies and the endometrium, tamoxifen, tibolone, aromatase inhibitors). Results were restricted to systematic reviews and meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials/controlled clinical trials, and observational studies.

VALIDATION METHODS

The authors rated the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. See Appendix A (Tables A1 for definitions and A2 for interpretations of strong and conditional [weak] recommendations).

INTENDED AUDIENCE

Physicians, including gynaecologists, obstetricians, family physicians, radiologists, pathologists, and internists; nurse practitioners and nurses; medical trainees, including medical students, residents, and fellows; and other providers of health care of the postmenopausal population.

SOCIAL MEDIA ABSTRACT

Postmenopausal women often have a thickening of the lining of the uterus found during ultrasound. Without bleeding, an endometrium <11 mm is rarely a serious problem but should be evaluated by a health care provider.

SUMMARY STATEMENTS

RECOMMENDATIONS.

Estimating risk of endometrial malignancy and other intracavitary uterine pathology in women without abnormal uterine bleeding using IETA-1 multinomial regression model: validation study

OBJECTIVES

To assess the ability of the International Endometrial Tumor Analysis (IETA)-1 polynomial regression model to estimate the risk of endometrial cancer (EC) and other intracavitary uterine pathology in women without abnormal uterine bleeding.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study, in which we validated the IETA-1 model on the IETA-3 study cohort (n = 1745). The IETA-3 study is a prospective observational multicenter study. It includes women without vaginal bleeding who underwent a standardized transvaginal ultrasound examination in one of seven ultrasound centers between January 2011 and December 2018. The ultrasonography was performed either as part of a routine gynecological examination, during follow-up of non-endometrial pathology, in the work-up before fertility treatment or before treatment for uterine prolapse or ovarian pathology. Ultrasonographic findings were described using IETA terminology and were compared with histology, or with results of clinical and ultrasound follow-up of at least 1 year if endometrial sampling was not performed. The IETA-1 model, which was created using data from patients with abnormal uterine bleeding, predicts four histological outcomes: (1) EC or endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN); (2) endometrial polyp or intracavitary myoma; (3) proliferative or secretory endometrium, endometritis, or endometrial hyperplasia without atypia; and (4) endometrial atrophy. The predictors in the model are age, body mass index and seven ultrasound variables (visibility of the endometrium, endometrial thickness, color score, cysts in the endometrium, non-uniform echogenicity of the endometrium, presence of a bright edge, presence of a single dominant vessel). We analyzed the discriminative ability of the model (area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve (AUC); polytomous discrimination index (PDI)) and evaluated calibration of its risk estimates (observed/expected ratio).

RESULTS

The median age of the women in the IETA-3 cohort was 51 (range, 20-85) years and 51% (887/1745) of the women were postmenopausal. Histology showed EC or EIN in 29 (2%) women, endometrial polyps or intracavitary myomas in 1094 (63%), proliferative or secretory endometrium, endometritis, or hyperplasia without atypia in 144 (8%) and endometrial atrophy in 265 (15%) women. The endometrial sample had insufficient material in five (0.3%) cases. In 208 (12%) women who did not undergo endometrial sampling but were followed up for at least 1 year without clinical or ultrasound signs of endometrial malignancy, the outcome was classified as benign. The IETA-1 model had an AUC of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.73-0.89, n = 1745) for discrimination between malignant (EC or EIN) and benign endometrium, and the observed/expected ratio for EC or EIN was 0.51 (95% CI, 0.32-0.82). The model was able to categorize the four histological outcomes with considerable accuracy: the PDI of the model was 0.68 (95% CI, 0.62-0.73) (n = 1532). The IETA-1 model discriminated very well between endometrial atrophy and all other intracavitary uterine conditions, with an AUC of 0.96 (95% CI, 0.95-0.98). Including only patients in whom the endometrium was measurable (n = 1689), the model's AUC was 0.83 (95% CI, 0.75-0.91), compared with 0.62 (95% CI, 0.52-0.73) when using endometrial thickness alone to predict malignancy (difference in AUC, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.08-0.32). In postmenopausal women with measurable endometrial thickness (n = 848), the IETA-1 model gave an AUC of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.71-0.91), while endometrial thickness alone gave an AUC of 0.70 (95% CI, 0.60-0.81) (difference in AUC, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.01-0.20).

CONCLUSION

The IETA-1 model discriminates well between benign and malignant conditions in the uterine cavity in patients without abnormal bleeding, but it overestimates the risk of malignancy. It also discriminates well between the four histological outcome categories. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Incidental Finding of Thickened Endometrium in Postmenopausal Women: A Survey of Endometrial Cancer

Objectives The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of endometrial cancer in asymptomatic and symptomatic postmenopausal women referred to the hysteroscopy service for incidental finding of thickened endometrium. The secondary objectives were to identify, for the asymptomatic cohort, an acceptable threshold of endometrial thickness (ET) which should trigger endometrial sampling and its related sensitivity and specificity. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of 136 asymptomatic and 602 symptomatic postmenopausal women with an ET of >4 mm referred to the endometrial cancer diagnostic service in a gynecology oncology center over a period of one year. Clincal and demographic data were analyzed. Histopathological diagnosis was completed and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for acceptable ET cutoff in asymptomatic women were evaluated. Results The prevalence of malignancy and atypical hyperplasia in asymptomatic women was 3.7% and 4.4%, respectively. Within the asymptomatic subgroup with ET <11 mm, the yield rate for atypical hyperplasia (AH)+cancer was 2.2%. An ET <10 mm gave a similar yield; however, specificity decreased. ET (t-test p-value=0.037) correlates with endometrial pathology. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves identified a cutoff of 11 mm as an acceptable threshold for triggering further investigations. Conclusion Based on our findings, 11 mm may represent an acceptable threshold for further investigation in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. We strongly advocate qualitative assessment of the endometrium and evaluation of individual risk factors in women with ET between 4 mm and 11 mm. This study will contribute to the existing body of evidence for the management of asymptomatic postmenopausal women with incidental increased ET. Further studies are required.

Endometrial Biopsy: Indications, Techniques and Recommendations. An Evidence-Based Guideline for Clinical Practice

This practice guideline provides updated evidence for the gynecologist who performs endometrial biopsy (EB) in gynecologic clinical practice. An international committee of gynecology experts developed the recommendations according to AGREE Reporting Guideline. An adequate tissue sampling is mandatory when performing an EB. Blind methods should not be first choice in patients with suspected endometrial malignancy. Hysteroscopy is the targeted-biopsy method with highest diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness. Blind suction techniques are not reliable for the diagnosis of endometrial polyps. In low resources settings, and in absence of the capacity to perform office hysteroscopy, blind techniques could be used for EB. Hysteroscopic punch biopsy allows to collect only limited amount of endometrial tissue. grasp biopsy technique should be considered first choice in reproductive aged women, bipolar electrode chip biopsy should be preferred with hypotrophic or atrophic endometrium. EB is required for the final diagnosis of chronic endometritis. There is no consensus regarding which endometrial thickness cut-off should be used for recommending EB in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. EB should be offered to young women with abnormal uterine bleeding and risk factors for endometrial carcinoma. Endometrial pathology should be excluded with EB in nonobese women with unopposed hyperestrogenism. Hysteroscopy with EB is useful in patients with abnormal bleeding even without sonographic evidence of pathology. EB has high sensitivity for detecting intrauterine pathologies. In postmenopausal women with uterine bleeding, EB is recommended. Women with sonographic endometrial thickness > 4mm using tamoxifen should undergo hysteroscopic EB.

Risk of endometrial cancer in asymptomatic postmenopausal women in relation to ultrasonographic endometrial thickness: systematic review and diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the risk of endometrial carcinoma and atypical endometrial hyperplasia in asymptomatic postmenopausal women concerning the endometrial thickness measured by stratified threshold categories used for performing subsequent endometrial sampling and histologic evaluation.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, SciELO, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, LILACS, conference proceedings, and international controlled trials registries were searched without temporal, geographic, or language restrictions.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Studies were selected if they had a crossover design evaluating the risk of atypical endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma in postmenopausal asymptomatic women and calculated the diagnostic accuracy of transvaginal ultrasonography thresholds (at least 3.0 mm) confirmed by histopathologic diagnosis.

METHODS

This was a systematic review and diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Diagnostic Test Accuracy and Synthesizing Evidence from Diagnostic Accuracy Tests guidelines. Endometrial thickness thresholds were grouped as follows: from 3.0 to 5.9 mm; between 6.0 and 9.9 mm; between 10.0 and 13.9 mm; and ≥14.0 mm. Quality assessment was performed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool. Publication bias was quantified using the Deek funnel plot test. Coprimary outcomes were the risk of atypical endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial carcinoma according to the endometrial thickness and diagnostic accuracy of each threshold group.

RESULTS

A total of 18 studies provided the data of 10,334 women who were all included in the final analysis. Overall, at an endometrial thickness threshold of at least 3.0 mm, the risk of atypical endometrial hyperplasia or endometrial carcinoma was increased 3-fold relative to women below the cutoff (relative risk, 3.77; 95% confidence interval, 2.26-6.32; I2=74%). Similar degrees of risk were reported for thresholds between 3.0 and 5.9 mm (relative risk, 5.08; 95% confidence interval, 2.26-11.41; I2=0%), 6.0 and 9.9 mm (relative risk, 4.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.68-11.23; I2=0%), 10.0 and 13.9 mm (relative risk, 4.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.55-10.87; I2=86%), and ≥14.0 mm (relative risk, 2.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-6.16; I2=78%) with no significant difference among subgroups (P=.885). Regarding diagnostic accuracy, the pooled sensitivity decreased from thresholds below 5.9 mm (relative risk, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.85) to above 14.0 mm (relative risk, 0.28; 95% confidence interval, 0.18-0.40). Furthermore, the specificity increased from 0.70 (95% confidence interval, 0.61-0.78) for endometrial thickness between 3.0 and 5.9 mm to 0.86 (95% confidence interval, 0.71-0.94) when the endometrial thickness is ≥14.0 mm. For 3.0 to 5.9 mm and 10.0 to 13.9 mm thresholds, the highest diagnostic odds ratios of 10 (95% confidence interval, 3-41) and 11 (95% confidence interval, 2-49), with areas under the curve of 0.81 (95% confidence interval, 0.77-0.84) and 0.82 (95% confidence interval, 0.79-0.86), respectively, were retrieved. The summary point analysis revealed that the 3.0 to 5.9 mm cutoff point was placed higher in the summary receiver operator curve space than the other subgroups, indicating increased endometrial carcinoma or atypical endometrial hyperplasia diagnosis using these cutoffs.

CONCLUSION

Both low and high endometrial thickness thresholds in postmenopausal asymptomatic women seem equally effective in detecting endometrial carcinoma and atypical endometrial hyperplasia. However, although using a 3.0 to 5.9 mm cutoff results in a lower specificity, the offsetting improvement in sensitivity may justify using this cutoff for further endometrial evaluation in patients with suspected endometrial malignancy.

Value of endometrial thickness for the detection of endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia in asymptomatic postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND

The role of transvaginal sonography (TVS) in screening endometrial cancer and hyperplasia is significant in postmenopausal women. The objective of this study is to determine the endometrium thickness (ET) cut-off to distinguish premalignancy and malignancy in asymptomatic postmenopausal women.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated data of 968 eligible patients among 2537 asymptomatic postmenopausal women with ET ≥ 5 mm examined by TVS who were subjected to hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy between January 1, 2017, and June 30, 2020 in an urban tertiary specialized hospital in China. The patients were divided into two groups according to the pathology outcomes: benign, and atypical hyperplasia (AH) and endometrial carcinoma (EC). The risk factors and the optimal cut-off of ET for detecting AH and EC were determined by logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve.

RESULTS

2537 patients were offered hysteroscopy during a 42-month period. Finally, 968 patients were included for further analysis. Of these, 8 (0.8%) women were diagnosed with EC and 5 (0.5%) women with AH. The mean ET of AH and EC group was substantially higher than that in benign group (10.4 mm vs. 7.7 mm, P < 0.05). ET was significantly correlated with AH and EC shown by logistic regression analysis with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.252 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.107-1.416, P < 0.001). The optimal cut-off value for AH and EC was found to be 8 mm with the maximum AUC of 0.715 (95% CI 0.686-0.743, P < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 0.846, a specificity of 0.609, positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of 2.164 and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) of 0.253.

CONCLUSION

An ET cut-off of ≥ 8 mm shows a reasonable performance to detect AH and EC in asymptomatic postmenopausal women, thereby avoiding more invasive endometrial biopsy.

Endometrial Hyperplasia

The objectives of this Clinical Expert Series on endometrial hyperplasia are to review the etiology and risk factors, histologic classification and subtypes, malignant progression risks, prevention options, and to outline both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options. Abnormal uterine and postmenopausal bleeding remain the hallmark of endometrial pathology, and up to 10-20% of postmenopausal bleeding will be either hyperplasia or cancer; thus, immediate evaluation of any abnormal bleeding with either tissue procurement for pathology or imaging should be undertaken. Although anyone with a uterus may develop atypical hyperplasia, also known as endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN), genetic predispositions (eg, Lynch syndrome), obesity, chronic anovulation, and polycystic ovarian syndrome all markedly increase these risks, whereas use of oral contraceptive pills or progesterone-containing intrauterine devices will decrease the risk. An EIN diagnosis carries a high risk of concomitant endometrial cancer or eventual progression to cancer in the absence of treatment. The definitive and curative treatment for EIN remains hysterectomy; however, the obesity epidemic, the potential desire for fertility-sparing treatments, the recognition of varying rates of malignant transformation, medical comorbidities, and an aging population all may factor into decisions to employ nonsurgical treatment modalities.

Evaluation of endometrial thickness by transvaginal ultrasound and baseline risk factors as a predictor for endometrial abnormalities in postmenopausal women

Introduction/Purpose

To evaluate the endometrial thickness (ET) as a predictor of endometrial abnormalities in postmenopausal women and whether consideration of baseline risk factors increases diagnostic accuracy.

Methods

This is a retrospective observational study of postmenopausal women presenting with bleeding or thickened endometrium (≥4 mm) on ultrasound, between 2003 and 2012. Risk factors for endometrial abnormality were analysed using logistic regression. Of 301 women, 220 were symptomatic and 81 were asymptomatic. The median ET was 6 mm (IQR 4-9) for symptomatic women and 9 mm (IQR 6-12) for asymptomatic women.

Results

Abnormal pathology was found in 35 symptomatic (15.9%) and 6 asymptomatic women (7.4%). For each 1 mm increase in ET, the odds of an abnormal diagnosis increased by 16.3% (95% CI 9.6-23.5) for symptomatic and 19.9% (95% CI 3.1-39.3) for asymptomatic women. The Youden's index method identified an ET threshold of ≥7.1mm for symptomatic and ≥14.5mm for asymptomatic women. In symptomatic women the sensitivity was 88.6% (95% CI 72.3-96.3) and specificity 69.2% (95% CI 61.9-75.6), while in asymptomatic women the sensitivity was 50.0% (95% CI 13.9-86.1) and specificity was 89.3% (95% CI 79.5-95.0). The addition of age in the symptomatic women model reduced the sensitivity (82.9% (95% CI 65.7-92.8)) but increased the specificity (72.4% (95% CI 65.3-78.6)).

Conclusion

ET is a significant predictor of abnormality. In the absence of risk factors, our study suggests that invasive procedures may be withheld until the ET is ≥7.1 mm with bleeding and ≥14.5 mm in asymptomatic women with no bleeding.

Endometrial Cancer Incidence in Patients With Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia According to Mode of Management

BACKGROUND/AIM

It is well established that around one-third of patients with atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) go on to develop endometrial cancer (EC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included 119 patients recruited from the University Hospitals of Leicester from 01/01/2015 to 01/01/2020 with a diagnosis of AEH by endometrial biopsy. Patients were divided into two groups according to the management modality: Primary surgery (n=99), and conservative treatment (n=20). The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of EC in patients with AEH in University Hospitals of Leicester, UK, and to explore the reasons why patients with AEH opted for conservative management.

RESULTS

EC was diagnosed in 34.4% of patients with AEH managed by primary surgery. Moreover, the incidence of EC in patients with AEH managed conservatively was 25%. The main reason for opting for conservative management was that patients were unfit for surgery when assessed in the high-risk Anaesthetic Clinic (35%).

CONCLUSION

AEH is a pre-malignant lesion that has high risk of EC regardless of the mode of management. Total hysterectomy is the safest first line of treatment in AEH due to the high risk of concurrent EC and progression to EC. Currently, there is no reliable follow-up intervention to distinguish between concurrent EC and progression of AEH. Adequate discussion and counselling are essential when discussing conservative management for women with complex AEH. Patients should be counselled regarding the high risk of developing concurrent EC and risk of progression to EC.

The relationship between endometrial thickening and endometrial lesions in postmenopausal women

PURPOSE

The study aims to investigate the relationship between endometrial thickening and endometrial lesions in postmenopausal women.

METHODS

Totally 390 postmenopausal patients with endometrial thickening ≥ 5 mm were enrolled from June 2016 to April 2020, among whom 188 patients were asymptomatic and 202 patients were symptomatic.

RESULTS

There were 50 cases with endometrial cancer and precancerous lesions and 150 cases with benign lesions in the symptomatic group, significantly higher than that in the asymptomatic group. The most common pathological type in the asymptomatic group was endometrial polyp. In the asymptomatic group, statistically significant differences were found in endometrial thickness between patients with endometrial cancer and precancerous lesion (group B) and those with benign lesions and non-organic lesions (group A). Statistically significant differences were also found in age, endometrial thickness, hypertension, full-term delivery time and miscarriage times between group A and group B. Regression analysis indicated that hypertension and endometrial thickness were independent risk factors for endometrial cancer and precancerous lesions in the symptomatic group. ROC analysis showed that 10.5 mm was the optimal threshold for predicting endometrial cancer and precancerous lesions in the asymptomatic group, with sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 78.3%.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of endometrial cancer and precancerous lesions in postmenopausal women with endometrial thickening and vaginal bleeding is higher than that of asymptomatic women. The endometrial thickening in postmenopausal asymptomatic women is mainly benign, and the threshold for predicting endometrial cancer and precancerous lesions is 10.5 mm.

Comparison of 3D ultrasound, 2D ultrasound and 3D Doppler in the diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma in patients with uterine bleeding: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Endometrial cancer is a common malignancy affecting women worldwide. Usually, it clinically manifests with uterine bleeding, although identical clinical manifestations occur in benign conditions as well, with several endometrial biopsies being conducted unnecessarily. Therefore, an accurate, non-invasive diagnostic test is needed for first-line assessment, so as unnecessary biopsies are limited as much as possible. This systematic review aims to assess the diagnostic accuracy of three-dimensional ultrasound, a relatively novel method in gynecologic assessment, compared to two-dimensional ultrasound and three-dimensional Doppler in the prediction of uterine malignancy in women with abnormal uterine bleeding. The accuracy of endometrial volume, as a diagnostic parameter assessed by three-dimensional ultrasound is compared to diagnostic parameters from the other two methods, namely endometrial thickness and 3D Doppler indices (vascularization index, flow index and vascularization flow index). Articles relevant to our research question were systematically sought in the Web of Science, Scopus and MEDLINE/PubMed databases and underwent rigorous evaluation for inclusion according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies were thoroughly assessed for risk of bias and relevant data was extracted and analyzed. Studies were heterogenous and extracted data varied from study to study. Data on endometrial volume was compared to other diagnostic parameters. Forest plots with pooled percentages and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed for each comparison. Relative sensitivity and specificity ratios were calculated for each comparison to test for statistical significance. Endometrial volume and thickness comparison showed sensitivity 83% for both parameters and specificity 75% and 69% respectively, with volume being more specific than thickness (p < 0.05). Endometrial volume and Doppler indices comparison showed that sensitivity was 73%, 82%, 81% and 82%, while specificity was 72%, 76%, 75% and 76% for endometrial volume, vascularization index, flow index and vascularization-flow index respectively. All three Doppler indices were significantly more sensitive in the diagnosis of malignancy compared to endometrial volume (p < 0.05) While endometrial thickness remains a reliable predictor of uterine malignancy, endometrial volume appears promising as a method with higher specificity and more reliable measurements. Similarly, vascular indices seem as competent and even more sensitive than endometrial volume as predictors, with the added advantage of semi-automated and reproducible measurements that reflect the whole organ. More comparative studies with standardized protocols should be established, so as reliable cut-off values can be determined and thus standardize and streamline the diagnostic algorithm via the implementation of the three-dimensional modalities in the settings that they are available.

Clinicopathological features of endometrial lesions in asymptomatic postmenopausal women with thickened endometrium

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the clinical and pathological features of asymptomatic postmenopausal women with an incidentally detected increase in endometrial thickness (ET) by transvaginal ultrasound examination and discuss the cutoff value of ET for the timely discovery of endometrial malignancy.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of postmenopausal women with asymptomatic thickened endometrium (greater than or equal to 5 mm) screened by transvaginal ultrasound who were referred to the gynecology department at Xuanwu Hospital between January 2018 and March 2021. Data on participant demographics, clinical characteristics, and histopathology outcomes were collected. We stratified the participants into the benign group and malignant group according to pathology results and assessed differences between the two groups. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to identify the cutoff value of ET for predicting endometrial malignancy in postmenopausal women with asymptomatic thickened endometrium.

RESULTS

A total of 163 eligible cases were included in the analysis. The results showed that only ET was significantly different between the two groups. The median ET was significantly higher in the malignant group than in the benign group (1.20 vs 0.80, P = 0.023). The optimal cutoff value of ET was 10 mmwith the maximum AUC (0.881, 95% CI 0.810-0.952, P = 0.024), and the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of endometrial malignancy were 100%and 80%, respectively. Among the 47 women with ET ≥ 10mm, the prevalence of endometrial malignancy was 6.3%, which was significantly higher than that among women with ET < 10mm ( P = 0.023).

CONCLUSION

For postmenopausal women with asymptomatic endometrial thickening, the prevalence of endometrial malignancy is significantly higher when ET is ≥ 10 mm. If ET is ≥ 10mm, further histopathological testing should be recommended to exclude endometrial malignancy. Further large-sample and prospective studies are needed to determine the predictive value of ET.

The Sonographic Appearance of Endometrial Intraepithelial Neoplasia

OBJECTIVES

To describe the sonographic findings of endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN), a precursor of endometrial cancer.

METHODS

Cases were found by word search of pathology database 1/2013 to 6/2019. One hundred and seventy-eight patients with ultrasound <1 year prior to biopsy were included. Medical records were searched for patient data. Two radiologists blindly classified images. Differences of opinion were decided by clinical report. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Median time between ultrasound and first sampling procedure was 49 days. Median age was 55 (range 28-85) years. Endometrial thickness ranged from 2 to 90 mm. Mean endometrial thickness was 13 ± 6 mm in the noncancer group and 16 ± 11 mm in the cancer group (P = .02). The endometrium was almost always heterogeneous 175/178 (98%). Cysts were almost always multiple (89/109, 82%) and >1 mm (72/109, 66%). Masses were most often >5 mm (56/105, 55%) and ill-defined (41/105, 39%). Vascularity was present in 93/178 examinations (52%) and always associated with cysts and/or mass. There were 92 cancers, 25 with invasion (including 4 with tumor extension into adenomyosis). In 47 cases, the endometrial-myometrial interface was graded as ill-defined, 39 of whom had hysterectomy. There was macroscopic cancer in 11, microscopic cancer in 4, and invasive carcinoma in 12 patients (P for invasive cancer versus other outcomes = .02). Depth of invasion was 5- >95%, with 6 cancers >50%. Multivariate analysis showed thickness, polyps, and type of bleeding as the best set of independent variables for cancer (area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve [AUC] = .75). Replacing type of bleeding with age or menopausal status had AUC of .73 and .74, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

EIN has a variety of sonographic appearances with thickened endometrium with cysts and masses being common. Ill-definition of the endometrial-myometrial interface is a poor prognostic finding when seen in the absence of adenomyosis.

Clinical significance of endometrial abnormalities: an observational study on 1020 women undergoing hysteroscopic surgery

BACKGROUND

The overall clinical significance of the finding of endometrial abnormalities in predicting premalignant/malignant endometrial lesions is still incompletely determined. For this reason the management, surgical or expectant, of women in which an endometrial abnormality has been detected is debated.

METHODS

This retrospective study was carried out on 1020 consecutive women, 403 premenopausal and 617 postmenopausal, who underwent operative hysteroscopy in a University Hospital for suspected endometrial abnormalities, which were detected by transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) and/or office hysteroscopy. In these women, the clinical characteristics and findings at TVS and hysteroscopy were evaluated in relation to the presence/absence of premalignant/malignant endometrial lesions at pathology report.

RESULTS

The clinical characteristics considered were significantly different when the study women were compared according to their menopausal status. Premalignant/malignant lesions were found in 34/1020 (3.33%) women. Complex hyperplasia with atypia and endometrial cancer were detected in 22 (2.15%) and 12 (1.17%) cases, respectively. The postmenopausal women had a significantly higher risk of premalignant/malignant lesions than premenopausal women (O.R. = 5.098 [95% C.I.: 1.782-14.582], P < 0.005). This risk was even higher when abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) was present (O.R. = 5.20 [95% C.I.: 2.38-11.35], P < 0.0001). The most significant associations with premalignant/malignant endometrial lesions were BMI, AUB in postmenopause, overall polyp size, atypical aspect of endometrial polyps at hysteroscopy, postmenopausal status, diabetes mellitus and patient age.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study suggest that the proper, aggressive or expectant, management of endometrial abnormalities should take into account both ultrasonographic and hysteroscopic findings together with the specific clinical characteristics of the patients.

New Light on Endometrial Thickness as a Risk Factor of Cancer: What Do Clinicians Need to Know?

Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) represents an accurate and noninvasive technique to investigate endometrial thickness (ET) in the early diagnosis of endometrial cancer (EC). In the literature, for maximum ET there is no consensus on the cutoff value for normal ET in postmenopause for either symptomatic or asymptomatic women. Most patients with EC present with postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) and in these patients is necessary to perform TVUS to evaluate ET as an indicator for endometrial biopsy. On the contrary, if ET is incidentally detected in postmenopausal patients without bleeding, endometrial sampling for a postmenopausal woman without bleeding should not be routinely performed, although it is estimated that up to 15% of EC occurs in women without vaginal bleeding. The aim of our review was to give clinicians necessary and useful knowledge on the role of TVUS and ET for early detection of EC in their daily routine practice. Based on the most important studies in the literature, we summarized that in premenopausal woman with abnormal uterine bleeding, an optimal cutoff for ET has not yet been established. For postmenopausal women with PMB, at low risk, and ET <4 mm, a follow-up scan could be offered, and for women with ET ≥4 mm, office hysteroscopy–guided endometrial sampling is recommended independently of ET results. On the other hand, in postmenopausal women with PMB and at high risk of EC, office hysteroscopy–guided endometrial sampling is necessary. In postmenopausal women without PMB and ET ≥4 mm, arbitrary endometrial sampling is not recommended, but evaluated case by case based on risk factors. In conclusion, there is broad consensus on the importance of TVUS and the need for further investigation based on risk factors of EC.

Can a higher endometrial thickness threshold exclude endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia in asymptomatic postmenopausal women? A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Asymptomatic postmenopausal women incidentally found to have thickened endometrium (>4 mm) on transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) often undergo hysteroscopy and dilatation and curettage despite having a low absolute risk of endometrial cancer. A low threshold for investigation may be unnecessary in these women.

AIM

This systematic literature review examines whether an increased TVUS endometrial thickness threshold has superior diagnostic accuracy for endometrial malignancies and premalignancies in asymptomatic postmenopausal women than the current threshold of ≥4 mm.

METHODS

Pubmed, EMBASE and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were systematically searched using keywords for publications between 2011 and 2021. Studies were included if they reported TVUS endometrial thickness analysis in asymptomatic postmenopausal women and excluded if they were written in a non-English language. Quality of evidence in the included articles was evaluated according to recommendations by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation Working Group and reported results were tabulated.

RESULTS

Of seven studies (N = 2986), better evidence identified 12 mm as the optimal diagnostic threshold (area under the curve receiver operating characteristic (AUC ROC) 0.716, 95% CI 0.534-0.897, P = 0.019) for endometrial cancer in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. Two higher quality studies (n = 488 and n = 4751) identified 11 mm as optimal for diagnosing both endometrial carcinoma and atypical hyperplasia (AUC ROC 0.587, 95% CI 0.465-0.708, P = 0.144 and 2.59 relative risk, 95% CI 1.66-4.05, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Evidence for improved detection of endometrial premalignancies and malignancies using alternative endometrial thickness thresholds is not rigorous. Evidence for improved outcomes using alternative thresholds is inadequate. Observation of asymptomatic postmenopausal women without risk factors and with an endometrial thickness of less than 10 mm may be reasonable.

Does an Endometrial Cancer Diagnosis among Asymptomatic Patients Improve Prognosis?

BACKGROUND

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy in developed countries with no screening available. There is still a tendency to provide invasive bioptic verification in asymptomatic women with abnormal ultrasound findings to diagnose carcinoma in a preclinical phase; even though, it is not supported by European guidelines. Our goal was to determine DFS (disease-free survival), OS (overall survival), and DSS (disease-specific survival) differences between symptom-free and symptomatic (bleeding, or spotting) endometrial cancer patients with similar stage and tumor/clinical characteristics.

METHODS

All of our patients with endometrial cancer following surgical treatment between 2006 and 2019 were assessed, evaluating risk factors for recurrence and death while focusing on bleeding using univariable and multivariable analysis.

RESULTS

625 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were divided into asymptomatic (n = 144, 23%) and symptomatic (n = 481, 77%) groups. The median follow-up was 3.6 years. Using univariable analysis, symptomatic patients had a three times higher risk of recurrence (HR 3.1 (95% Cl 1.24-7.77), p = 0.016). OS (HR 1.35 (0.84-2.19), p = 0.219) and DSS (HR 1.66 (0.64-4.28), p = 0.3) were slightly worse without reaching statistical significance. In our multivariable analysis, symptomatology was deemed completely insignificant in all monitored parameters (DFS: HR 2.03 (0.79-5.24), p = 0.144; OS: HR 0.72 (0.43-1.21), p = 0.216).

CONCLUSIONS

The symptomatic endometrial cancer patients risk factor of earlier recurrence and death is insignificantly higher when compared with the asymptomatic cohort. However, multivariable analysis verifies that prognosis worsens with other clinically relevant parameters, not by symptomatology itself. In terms of survival outcome in EC patients, we recognized symptomatology as a non-significant marker for the patient's prognosis.

The Value of Shear Wave Elastography in Predicting the Risk of Endometrial Cancer and Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate shear wave elastography (SWE) technology diagnosis value of endometrial cancer (EC) and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH), and to establish predictive logistic regression models for the diagnosis of EC and AEH.

METHODS

Clinical information collection, transvaginal conventional ultrasonography, and SWE check were performed on 122 patients, who were perimenopausal or postmenopausal vaginal bleeding with ≥4.5 mm thick endometrium. The maximal (Emax) and mean (Emean) of Young's modulus for the endometrium were obtained. Using pathology as the gold standard, ROC curves were plotted to evaluate Young's modulus on the diagnostic effectiveness of EC and AEH. Single-factor analysis and bivariate logistic regression methods were applied to assess the clinical variables, transuaginal conventional ultrasonography variables, and Young's modulus on the identification of EC and AEH.

RESULTS

Out of 122 cases of endometrial lesions, 85 cases were benign lesions, and the remaining 37 cases were EC and AEH. The Emax and Emean for the benign group were 29.80 ± 11.40 and 17.96 ± 8.05 kPa, respectively. The Emax and Emean values for EC and AEH group were 59.49 ± 16.95 and 38.46 ± 17.10 kPa, respectively. Emax and Emean for both groups were statistically significant, with p <.001. In the logistical regression analysis, endometrial thickness, Color score, and Young's modulus were identified as independent risk factors for EC and AEH.

CONCLUSIONS

SWE technology plays an important role in the diagnosis of EC and AEH, and the diagnostic effectiveness would be higher when combined with conventional ultrasonography.

Asymptomatic postmenopausal women: what are the risk factors for endometrial malignancies? A multicentric retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for endometrial malignancies in asymptomatic postmenopausal women.

METHODS

Multicentric retrospective analytical study in two Brazilian Reference Centers. All women without postmenopausal bleeding who were submitted to hysteroscopy with biopsy were included (1665). Excluded women without anatomopathological results (625) and whose medical records were incomplete (37). The variables analyzed were age; parity; body mass index; duration of menopausal status; systemic arterial hypertension; diabetes mellitus; use of hormone replacement therapy; use of tamoxifen; duration of use of tamoxifen; endometrial thickness and biopsy results.

RESULTS

The frequency of endometrial malignancies in asymptomatic postmenopausal women was 2.39%. Endometrial thickness ≥8 mm increased the chance of endometrial malignancies, even more, with an endometrial thickness ≥12.55 mm the chance of endometrial malignancies increased by 4.68 times (p < .001 and 95% CI: 1.99-11.03).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of endometrial malignancies was low and the only risk factor for endometrial malignancies in asymptomatic postmenopausal women was endometrial thickness.

Risk factors of endometrial cancer in patients with endometrial hyperplasia: implication for clinical treatments

Background

Endometrial hyperplasia (EH) is commonly-seen in the patients with endometrial cancer (EC), we aimed to evaluated the risk factors of EC in patients with EH, to provide evidence to the clinical prevention and treatment of EC.

Methods

This study was a retrospective study design. EH patients confirmed by pathological examinations and treated with hysterectomy in our hospital from June 1, 2018 to February 28, 2021 were included. The clinical characteristics of EC and no-EC patients were compared and analyzed. Logistics regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the risk factors of EC in patients with EH.

Results

A total of 228 EH patients were included, the incidence of EC in the EH patients was 31.58%. There were significant differences in the age, BMI, diabetes, hypertension and pathology of EH between EC and no EC groups (all P < 0.05), no significant differences in the hyperlipidemia, preoperative CA₁₂₅, number of deliveries, menopause and endometrial thickness between EC and no EC groups were found (all P > 0.05). Logistic regression analyses indicated that age > 50 y (OR 3.064, 95% CI 1.945–5.931), BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² (OR 2.705, 95% CI 1.121–3.889), diabetes (OR 3.049, 95% CI 1.781–5.114), hypertension (OR 2.725, 95% CI 1.108–3.431) and severe hyperplasia (OR 3.181, 95% CI 1.496–4.228) were the risk factors of EC in patients with EH (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The risk of EC in EH patients is high, especially for those patients with age > 50 y, BMI ≥ 25 kg/m², diabetes, hypertension and severe hyperplasia, special attentions should be paid for occurrence of EC and early diagnosis and early treatment are needed for those patients.

Tumor Characteristic Variations between Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy in Europe and usually diagnosed in its initial stage owing to early symptoms of abnormal bleeding. There is no population screening for this disease, although it can sometimes be accidentally diagnosed in asymptomatic patients. Our study aims to determine differences in clinical and tumor characteristics between an asymptomatic and symptomatic group of patients. This unicentric prospective observational study took place in University Hospital Brno between January 2016 and December 2019. A total of 264 patients met inclusion criteria (26% asymptomatic, 74% with reported symptoms). We did not find a statistically significant difference in clinical characteristics (menopausal status, parity, age, BMI, and serum level of CA 125) between groups. According to ultrasound examination, bleeding tumors were larger (19.5 vs. 12.7 mm, p ≤ 0.001). Definitive histology results indicated more frequent lymphovascular space invasion (p < 0.001), along with deep myometrial (p = 0.001) and cervical (p = 0.002) invasion. There was no difference in advanced stages of the tumor. We did not substantiate statistically significant difference in immunohistochemical profile (estrogen and progesterone receptors, L1 cell adhesion molecule, tumor protein p53), which is relevant for tumor recurrence risk and survival capacity. Our conclusions affirmed that bleeding occurs more often among patients with local tumor invasion into the myometrium and cervical stroma. Final International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, histology, and immunohistochemical characteristics do not significantly affect symptom appearance.

Diagnostic value of endometrial volume and flow parameters under 3D ultrasound acquisition in combination with serum CA125 in endometrial lesions

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to discuss the differential diagnosis value of endometrial volume and flow parameters in combination with serum carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) in endometrial benign and malignant lesions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data of 250 patients with endometrial lesions were retrospectively analyzed. Carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) was determined before the operation. The morphology, hemodynamics, volume and flow parameters of the endometrium were measured by transvaginal three-dimensional-power Doppler angiography (3D-PDA). The endometrial volume (EV), 3D-PDA vascular index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI) were calculated using the virtual organ computer-aided analysis software (VOCAL).

RESULTS

According to the pathological results, 202 patients (80.8%) had benign endometrial lesions and 48 patients (19.2%) had endometrial cancer (EC). The endometrium of EC patients was thicker (15.64 ± 7.26 mm vs. 9.24 ± 5.06 mm, P < 0.001), the endometrial volume was larger (9.23 ± 4.08 ml vs. 2.26 ± 3.42 ml, P < 0.001), and the flow parameters VI, FI and VFI were higher, when compared to those of benign lesions (P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROCC) of VI receptors was 0.86, while the AUC of endometrial thickness (ET) was only 0.66. Therefore, the best variable for distinguishing benign and malignant endometrial lesions was VI. The level of CA125 in the EC group significantly increased (40.57 ± 17.45 vs. 17.87 ± 7.64, P < 0.001), and the level of CA125 increased (P < 0.05) with the increase in clinical grade, degree of tumor differentiation, and pelvic lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). However, the difference in myometrial invasion was not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Transvaginal 3D-PDA can clearly show the morphological and hemodynamic characteristics of endometrial lesions, and assist in the detection of EC in combination with serum CA125. This may have important clinical application value.

Neither soyfoods nor isoflavones warrant classification as endocrine disruptors: a technical review of the observational and clinical data

Soybeans are a rich source of isoflavones, which are classified as phytoestrogens. Despite numerous proposed benefits, isoflavones are often classified as endocrine disruptors, based primarily on animal studies. However, there are ample human data regarding the health effects of isoflavones. We conducted a technical review, systematically searching Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library (from inception through January 2021). We included clinical studies, observational studies, and systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMA) that examined the relationship between soy and/or isoflavone intake and endocrine-related endpoints. 417 reports (229 observational studies, 157 clinical studies and 32 SRMAs) met our eligibility criteria. The available evidence indicates that isoflavone intake does not adversely affect thyroid function. Adverse effects are also not seen on breast or endometrial tissue or estrogen levels in women, or testosterone or estrogen levels, or sperm or semen parameters in men. Although menstrual cycle length may be slightly increased, ovulation is not prevented. Limited insight could be gained about possible impacts of in utero isoflavone exposure, but the existing data are reassuring. Adverse effects of isoflavone intake were not identified in children, but limited research has been conducted. After extensive review, the evidence does not support classifying isoflavones as endocrine disruptors.

Relationship between the Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease and Endometrial Thickness in Postmenopausal Women: A Cross-sectional Study in China

Objectives: To determine the relationship between the endometrial thickness (ET) and metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in the postmenopausal women who have a comprehensive health examination. Methods: This was a population-based, retrospective observational study of the prevalence of MAFLD in 8594 postmenopausal women with different ET in the Quality Control Center of Health Examination in Chongqing, China. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to obtain odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for patients of different ET with MAFLD after adjusting for age. Results: The incidences of MAFLD were 28.6% (1352), 30.3% (1058), 34.9% (133) in postmenopausal women with ET of < 3 mm, 3 mm ≤ & < 5 mm, and ≥ 5 mm, respectively. Compared with a baseline ET of less than 5.0 mm, the risk of MAFLD in patients with ET of ≥5.0 mm is higher (OR=1.291, 95% CI: 1.041-1.603, P<0.05). After adjustment for age, a statistically significant positive correlation was still observed. The increased prevalence of MAFLD in patients with ET of 3 mm ≤ &<5 mm (OR=1.110, 95% CI: 1.008-1.223) and ≥5 mm (OR=1.383, 95% CI: 1.109-1.724) achieved statistical significance, respectively. In addition, multiple logistic analyses controlling for age also confirmed the finding of positive correlation among body mass index (BMI) and ET. Conclusion: Our results suggest that there is a positive correlation between MAFLD and ET in postmenopausal women. In addition, increased BMI is also associated with an increased risk of thickened endometrium.

Endometrial Cancer Risk Prediction According to Indication of Diagnostic Hysteroscopy in Post-Menopausal Women

We conducted a prospective observational study investigating the clinical relevance of endometrial thickness (ET) and abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) on endometrial cancer (EC) risk in a cohort of postmenopausal patients undergoing diagnostic hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy. Patients were divided into two groups according to the indication of diagnostic hysteroscopy: ET_Group (asymptomatic patients with endometrial thickness ≥ 4 mm) and AUB_Group (patients with a history of abnormal uterine bleeding). We further divided the AUB_Group into two subgroups based on endometrial thickness (AUB_Subgroup1: ET < 4 mm; AUB_Subgroup2: ET ≥ 4 mm). The primary outcome was the risk of endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia according to the indications of diagnostic hysteroscopy (AUB, ET ≥ 4 mm or both). The secondary outcome was to determine the best cut-off value of endometrial thickness to predict endometrial cancer in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. The prevalence of endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia in AUB_Group and ET_Group was 21% and 6.7% respectively. As well as for EC alone, higher prevalence of both conditions was observed in AUB_Subgroup2 (29.3%) in comparison to AUB_Subgroup1 (10.6%; p < 0.001). In asymptomatic patients the cut-off of endometrial thickness that showed the best sensitivity and specificity to diagnose endometrial cancer (100% and 80% respectively) was 11 mm (AUC of 91.4%; Expβ: 1067; CI 95%). In conclusion, considering the high risk of neoplasia, diagnostic hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy should be mandatory in cases of abnormal uterine bleeding in postmenopausal patients. Moreover, we want to emphasize the need for further evidence stating the clinical relevance of endometrial thickness value in asymptomatic patients and the impact of individual risk factors on endometrial cancer development.