Thickened Endometrium: When to Intervene? A Clinical Conundrum

A Review of the Risk Factors Associated with Endometrial Hyperplasia During Perimenopause

Background

Endometrial hyperplasia, characterized by excessive growth leading to endometrial thickening, is commonly observed in the premenopausal period. Its prevalence in postmenopausal women is approximately 15%, peaking between ages 50 and 60. This condition often manifests as abnormal uterine bleeding and can progress to malignancy, with varying risks depending on the type of hyperplasia.

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the factors influencing endometrial thickness during the perimenopausal period and raise awareness among healthcare professionals about the importance of evaluating and caring for individuals with endometrial hyperplasia.

Methods

Studies examining the association between various factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, age, estrogen replacement therapy, anovulatory disorders, smoking, medications, genetic factors, and endocrine-related proteins and the development of endometrial hyperplasia were reviewed. The literature search encompassed relevant databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.

Results

Research findings indicate significant associations between changes in gene expression of several factors and the development of endometrial hyperplasia. Notably, the risk of progression to cancer varies between non-atypical and atypical hyperplasia cases. Factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, age, estrogen replacement therapy, anovulatory disorders, smoking, medications, Lynch syndrome, tamoxifen use, and alterations in gene expression of TNF-α, EGF, IGF-1, IGF-1R, and PTEN have been implicated in the pathogenesis of endometrial hyperplasia.

Conclusion

This study underscores the importance of understanding the factors influencing endometrial thickness during the perimenopausal period. It emphasizes the pivotal role of healthcare professionals in evaluating and caring for individuals with this condition.

Induction and characterization of a rat model of endometriosis

Endometriosis is a common condition that affects 5% to 10% of women during their reproductive years, although the aetiology and pathophysiology are still unknown. This study aimed to create an endometriosis model in rats to investigate the efficacy of natural and synthetic medications in treating endometriosis. An in vivo endometriotic model was established using a surgical induction method and the endocrine-disrupting drug diethylstilbestrol (DES). In brief, the experiment is categorised into three different groups. Each group contains five rats. The first group had no surgery, while in the in the second group of rats (n = 5), two small tissue grafts were fixed at the right and left walls of the abdomen. But in the in the third group of rats (n = 5), two small pieces of tissue have been grafted on the right and left abdomen walls by surgically along with DES treatments. Noninvasive photoacoustic imaging (PAI) was employed in the study to measure factors such as haemoglobin levels, oxygen saturation, and the size of endometriotic lesions. Histopathological analysis was carried out utilising staining techniques such as Hematoxylin and Eosin, Masson's Trichrome, and Periodic Acid Schiff, as well as immunohistochemistry with marker antibodies. Molecular markers in uterine tissue were examined using Western blots and real-time PCR. The developed endometriosis rat model showed a significant increase in the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, angiogenic marker VEGF and pro-inflammatory (COX-2 and IL-6) protein markers. In contrast to the control group, the treatment group had considerably lower Caspase-3 expression levels. Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) data demonstrated a constant increase in lesion size, as well as a decrease in oxygen saturation levels. The findings suggest that the in vivo endometriosis rat model may accurately assess the efficacy of natural or synthetic endometriosis treatments. This model may help in the improvement of disease understanding and the development of targeted therapeutic drugs.

When the Embryo Meets the Endometrium: Identifying the Features Required for Successful Embryo Implantation

Evaluation of the optimal number of embryos, their quality, and the precise timing for transfer are critical determinants in reproductive success, although still remaining one of the main challenges in assisted reproduction technologies (ART). Indeed, the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments relies on a multitude of events and factors involving both the endometrium and the embryo. Despite concerted efforts on both fronts, the overall success rates of IVF techniques continue to range between 25% and 30%. The role of the endometrium in implantation has been recently recognized, leading to the hypothesis that both the "soil" and the "seed" play a central role in a successful pregnancy. In this respect, identification of the molecular signature of endometrial receptivity together with the selection of the best embryo for transfer become crucial in ART. Currently, efforts have been made to develop accurate, predictive, and personalized tests to identify the window of implantation and the best quality embryo. However, the value of these tests is still debated, as conflicting results are reported in the literature. The purpose of this review is to summarize and critically report the available criteria to optimize the success of embryo transfer and to better understand current limitations and potential areas for improvement.

Levels of anxiety and depression in patients with endometrial hyperplastic processes and extragenital pathology in the perimenopausal period

OBJECTIVE

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the level of anxiety and depression in patients with endometrial hyperplastic processes and somatic pathology in the perimenopausal period.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and Methods: Overall, 150 women who were split into 2 groups, participated in this study and answered on questionnaires that were conducted according to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to assess the degree of anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients. PHQ-2 and PHQ-9 questionnaires were used to study the level of anxiety and depression.

RESULTS

Results: Analysis of the results obtained using the HADS scale revealed that both anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients of the main group were more pronounced than in women of the control group. Identification of psycho-emotional disorders is the result of adverse effects of somatic diseases and gynecological pathology.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: The results of the study indicate the need to correct psycho-emotional disorders and take them into account when choosing a method of treatment in such patients.

Field-of-view optimized and constrained undistorted single-shot study of intravoxel incoherent motion and diffusion-weighted imaging of the uterus during the menstrual cycle: a prospective study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to compare the variability of the uterus during the menses phase (MP), follicular phase (FP), and luteal phase (LP) of the menstrual cycle using intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI).

METHODS

This prospective study was conducted at the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2022 and January 2023. Women of childbearing age (18-45 years) with appropriate progesterone levels were included in this study. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging and IVIM-DWI scans were performed during the MP, FP, and LP. The differences in IVIM-DWI-derived parameters between these phases were then compared, and the overlap was quantitatively described.

RESULTS

The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and pure molecular diffusion coefficient (D) values from the endometrium, uterine junctional zone (UJZ), and myometrium indicated statistical differences between the MP and FP and the MP and LP (ADC: endometrium, both P < 0.001; UJZ, P = 0.008 and P < 0.001, respectively; myometrium, P = 0.033 and P = 0.006, respectively; D: endometrium, both P < 0.001; UJZ, P = 0.008 and P = 0.006, respectively; myometrium, P = 0.041 and P = 0.045, respectively). The perfusion-related diffusion coefficient (D*) values from the myometrium indicated statistical differences between the FP and MP and the FP and LP (D*: myometrium, P = 0.049 and P = 0.009, respectively). The overlapping endometrium ratios between the MP and FP or LP were lower than 50% in the ADC and D values (ADC: overlapping of MP and FP: 33.33%, overlapping of MP and LP: 23.33%; D: overlapping of MP and FP: 40.00%, overlapping of MP and LP: 43.33%).

CONCLUSION

The ADC and IVIM-derived parameters indicated differences in the uterus in diverse phases of the menstrual cycle, especially in the endometrium in relation to ADC and D values.

Assessment of paraclinical characteristics in peri- and postmenopausal bleeding women: is there a correlation between hemoglobin levels and ultrasonic indices?

Objectives

Vaginal bleeding is a common symptom of uterine intracavitary pathologies in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, which leads to anemia. However, findings regarding the relationship between hemoglobin level and sonographic parameters remain limited. The aim of this study was (1) to investigate the histopathological findings of uterine intracavitary pathologies, hemoglobin concentrations and basic sonographic parameters, and (2) to evaluate their correlation among Vietnamese women with perimenopausal and postmenopausal bleeding.

Methods

This was a prospective study at Hue University Hospital and Hue Central Hospital from June 2016 to June 2019. The study enrolled 150 women older than 40 years with abnormal uterine bleeding. All patients underwent blood count testing and transvaginal ultrasound.

Results

Moderate to severe anemia was observed at a higher frequency in women with perimenopausal bleeding (58.1%) than postmenopausal bleeding (10.0%). The most common abnormality resulting in severe anemia was endometrial hyperplasia (70.8%), which was followed by endometrial cancer (4.2%). The uterine size, intrauterine mass, and endometrial thickness differed substantially between the benign and malignant groups. The study found significantly a weak negative correlation between hemoglobin concentration (g/L) and uterinelength, the anteroposterior diameter of uterine corpus in the overall study (r = -0.37, r = -0.32, respectively, P < 0.05); a moderate negativecorrelation between hemoglobin concentration and the largest diameter of intracavitary mass‑shaped lesion in the perimenopausal group (r = -0.4, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Overall, histopathological results, hemoglobin concentration and basic sonographic parameters should be combined in evaluating intrauterine abnormalities in women with perimenopausal and postmenopausal bleeding. Ultrasonic indices of uterine size may be used to determine the prognosis of anemia in uterine intracavitary pathologies. However, further studies are needed to confirm these findings.