Hysteroscopic and nonhysteroscopic endometrial ablation

Efficacy of bipolar radiofrequency endometrial ablation vs thermal balloon ablation for management of menorrhagia: A population-based cohort

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of bipolar radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and thermal balloon ablation (TBA) using treatment failure and postprocedure amenorrhea as outcome measures.

DESIGN

Population-based cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

SETTING

Two medical centers in the upper Midwest.

PATIENTS

Using the medical records linkage system of the Rochester Epidemiology Project, we identified 455 residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, who underwent global endometrial ablation because of menorrhagia from January 1, 1998, through December 31, 2005. Amenorrhea was defined as complete cessation of menstruation that started immediately after ablation and lasted at least 12 months. Treatment failure was defined as necessity of repeat ablation or hysterectomy because of persistent bleeding or pain. Time to treatment failure for each procedure was compared using Kaplan-Meier plots. Relevant clinical data and complications were abstracted from medical records. Risk adjustments were performed using Cox and logistic regression models.

INTERVENTIONS

Radiofrequency ablation (n=255) and thermal balloon ablation (n=200).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Mean (SD) patient age was 43.3 (5.5) years, and median follow-up was 2.2 years. The 3-year cumulative failure rate was 9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5%-16%) for RFA and 12% (95% CI, 7%-16%) for TBA (p=.26). The difference remained nonsignificant after adjusting for known predictors of treatment failure such as age, parity, pretreatment dysmenorrhea, and tubal ligation (adjusted HR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.4-1.4; p=.31). However, women had significantly higher rates of amenorrhea after RFA compared with TBA (32% vs 14%; p <.001). This difference remained significant after adjusting for known predictors of amenorrhea such as age, uterine length, and endometrial thickness (adjusted odds ratio, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.7-4.8; p <.001). Complications were infrequent and similar in the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION

Both RFA and TBA were equally effective treatments for menorrhagia in a population-based cohort. However, women who underwent RFA were 3 times more likely to have postprocedure amenorrhea.

Management of abnormal uterine bleeding and the pathology of endometrial hyperplasia

There are no screening tests for endometrial carcinoma, and patients typically present with abnormal uterine bleeding. This article discusses the pathophysiology and clinical work-up of abnormal uterine bleeding, and risk factors for endometrial carcinoma. Atypical complex hyperplasia and the more recently defined endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia are well recognized as precancers. Evolving knowledge of their genetic alterations provides the opportunity to develop molecular markers, so that endometrial diseases may be diagnosed at the precancerous or early invasive stage. Emerging molecular markers also provide the opportunity to develop clinically useful screening tests for the most common malignancy of the female genital tract.

Second-generation endometrial ablation technologies: the hot liquid balloons

Hysteroscopic endometrial ablation (HEA) was introduced in the 1980s to treat menorrhagia. Its use required additional training, surgical expertise and specialized equipment to minimize emergent complications such as uterine perforations, thermal injuries and excessive fluid absorption. To overcome these difficulties and concerns, thermal balloon endometrial ablation (TBEA) was introduced in the 1990s. Four hot liquid balloons have been introduced into clinical practice. All systems consist of a catheter (4-10mm diameter), a silicone balloon and a control unit. Liquids used to inflate the balloons include internally heated dextrose in water (ThermaChoice, 87 degrees C), and externally heated glycine (Cavaterm, 78 degrees C), saline (Menotreat, 85 degrees ) and glycerine (Thermablate, 173 degrees C). All balloons require pressurization from 160 to 240 mmHg for treatment cycles of 2 to 10 minutes. Prior to TBEA, preoperative endometrial thinning, including suction curettage, is optional. Several RCTs and cohort studies indicate that the advantages of TBEA include portability, ease of use and short learning curve. In addition, small diameter catheters requiring minimal cervical dilatation (5-7 mm) and short duration of treatment cycles (2-8 min) allow treatment under minimal analgesia/anesthesia requirements in a clinic setting. Following TBEA serious adverse events, including thermal injuries to viscera have been experienced. To minimize such injuries some surgeons advocate the use of routine post-dilatation hysteroscopy and/or ultrasonography to confirm correct intrauterine placement of the balloon prior to initiating the treatment cycle. After 10 years of clinical practice, TBEA is thought to be the preferred first-line surgical treatment of menorrhagia in appropriately selected candidates. Economic modeling also suggested that TBEA may be more cost-effective than HEA.

Hysteroscopic surgery does not adversely affect the long-term prognosis of women with endometrial adenocarcinoma

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of hysteroscopic surgery on the long-term clinical outcome of women diagnosed with endometrial cancer.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).

SETTING

University-affiliated teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

From January 1990 through December 2005, the principal author (GAV) performed primary hysteroscopic surgery in 3401 women with abnormal uterine bleeding. Among these women, there were 16 occult and 3 known endometrial cancers.

INTERVENTIONS

All women underwent hysteroscopic evaluation and partial (n = 8) or complete (n = 11) rollerball electrocoagulation and/or endomyometrial resection. After diagnosis of endometrial malignancy, women were counseled regarding their disease and management, in accordance with established clinical practice guidelines. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 14 years and was conducted by office visits and telephone interviews.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Among the 3401 women, there were 19 women with endometrial adenocarcinoma, 3 of whom were known to harbor cancer before hysteroscopic surgery. One woman refused hysterectomy and remains alive and well 5 years after total hysteroscopic endomyometrial resection. Two women wished to maintain fertility; 1 consented to hysterectomy after incomplete resection of her lesion. The other was treated with progestins. Her cancer reverted to complex hyperplasia, and she requested hysterectomy 4 years later. No residual cancer was found. After 5 years of follow-up, 1 patient died from carcinoma of the gallbladder (2 years), and 2 died at 4 years; 1 at the age of 87 years of natural causes and the other at the age of 86 years from acute renal failure unrelated to her cancer. Fourteen women remain alive and well at 5 to 14 years of follow-up. Two additional women remain alive and well at 1 and 4 years of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Resectoscopic surgery did not adversely affect the 5-year survival and the long-term prognosis in 14 women with endometrial cancer.

Global endometrial ablation: a modern day solution to an age-old problem

Menorrhagia remains a significant health issue for women worldwide. Traditionally hysterectomy has been the treatment of choice when excessive menstrual bleeding remains unresolved by hormonal manipulation. In an attempt to provide a less invasive alternative to hysterectomy, traditional techniques such as rollerball endometrial ablation were developed 20 years ago. Although extremely effective, they possessed the potential of significant intra-operative risks and their success depended on high technical proficiency of the surgeon. As surgery and technology evolved, second generation endometrial ablation devices were developed which demonstrated improved safety and efficacy rates that paralleled traditional treatments. Since 1997, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved five such devices for use in the United States. Each possesses a unique technology profile with supporting level I evidence that allows for the treatment of a wide variety of uterine anatomy.

Resectoscopic surgery may be an alternative to hysterectomy in high-risk women with atypical endometrial hyperplasia

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Endometrial hyperplasia is found in 2% to 10% of women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). Up to 43% of patients with cytologic atypia harbor coexisting adenocarcinoma, and approximately 20% to 52% of atypical hyperplasias, if untreated, progress to cancer. The objective of this study was to estimate the incidence of atypical endometrial hyperplasia encountered during routine resectoscopic surgery in women with AUB and to evaluate the role of resectoscopic surgery in the management of women with AUB and atypical endometrial hyperplasia who refused and/or were at high risk for hysterectomy.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).

SETTING

University-affiliated teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

From January 1990 through December 2005, the senior author (GAV) performed primary resectoscopic surgery in 3401 women with AUB. Among these, there were 22 women with atypical (17 complex, 5 simple) endometrial hyperplasia.

INTERVENTIONS

All women underwent hysteroscopic evaluation and partial (n = 3) or complete (n = 19) endometrial electrocoagulation and/or resection. Subsequently, 6 women had hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The median (range) for age, parity, and body mass index were 55 years (24-78 years), 2 (0-4), and 30.1 kg/m2 (22.5-52.2 kg/m2), respectively. Among the 3401 women, there were 22 cases of atypical endometrial hyperplasia, 12 of which were incidentally diagnosed at the time of hysteroscopy (complex 10, simple 2, incidence 0.35%). After hysteroscopic diagnosis or confirmation of diagnosis, 6 women underwent hysterectomy and BSO. Of the remaining 16 women, followed for a median of 5 years (range 1.5-12 years), 1 was lost to follow-up, 1 had only a biopsy to preserve fertility, 1 died from lung cancer after 4 years, and 1 died from colon cancer after 5 years. One patient developed endometrial cancer after 10.5 years with postmenopausal bleeding. She remains alive and well 3.5 years after hysterectomy and BSO. The remaining 11 patients are amenorrheic at a median follow-up of 6 years (range 1.5-12 years).

CONCLUSIONS

Resectoscopic surgery in 3391 women with AUB detected 12 incidental cases of atypical endometrial hyperplasia (incidence 0.35%). Skillful resectoscopic surgery may be an alternative to hysterectomy in women with AUB and atypical endometrial hyperplasia, who refuse or are at high-risk for hysterectomy and who are compliant with regular and long-term follow-up.