Is transvaginal ultrasound a worthwhile investigation for women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy?

Clinical relevance of routine transvaginal ultrasound in women referred with pelvic organ prolapse

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of incidental findings on transvaginal ultrasound scan in women referred with pelvic organ prolapse by a general practitioner and to investigate which further examinations and treatments were performed as a result of these findings.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study that investigated women with pelvic organ prolapse referred to the outpatient urogynaecological clinics at Randers Regional Hospital and Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.

Results

A total of 521 women were included and all of them were examined with a routine transvaginal ultrasound scan and a gynaecological examination. Prolapse symptoms only and no specific indication for transvaginal ultrasound scan were seen in 507 women (97.3%), while 14 women (2.7%) received scans on indication. Among the latter women, five (35.7%) had cancer. In the women with solely prolapse symptoms, 59 (11.6%) had incidental findings on transvaginal ultrasound scan, but all were benign. However, two patients were later diagnosed with cancer unrelated to the initial ultrasound findings. The treatment was extended with further examinations not related to POP in 19 of the women (32.2%) with incidental ultrasound findings.

Conclusion

The prevalence of incidental ultrasound findings was not high in the women referred with pelvic organ prolapse and no additional symptoms, and all these findings were benign. However, it should be considered that these findings resulted in further investigations and changes to the patients’ initial treatment plans. A meticulous anamnesis and digital vaginal examination are crucial to rule out the need for vaginal ultrasound.

Gynecologic Malignancies Post-LeFort Colpocleisis

Introduction. LeFort colpocleisis (LFC) is a safe and effective obliterative surgical option for older women with advanced pelvic organ prolapse who no longer desire coital activity. A major disadvantage is the limited ability to evaluate for post-LFC gynecologic malignancies. Methods. We present the first case of endometrioid ovarian cancer diagnosed after LFC and review all reported gynecologic malignancies post-LFC in the English medical literature. Results. This is the second reported ovarian cancer post-LFC and the first of the endometrioid subtype. A total of nine other gynecologic malignancies post-LFC have been reported in the English medical literature. Conclusions. Gynecologic malignancies post-LFC are rare. We propose a simple 3-step strategy in evaluating post-LFC malignancies.

Uterus conserving prolapse surgery--what is the chance of missing a malignancy?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Recently, there has been a move towards uterine preserving surgery in the management of pelvic organ prolapse. The negative implications of such surgery have not been delineated. This study aims to identify the risk of finding an unexpected malignancy in these cases.

METHODS

A database containing details of vaginal hysterectomies performed over a 10-year period was searched. Women who underwent surgery for uterine prolapse were included. Women with other indications for surgery and those who presented with symptoms relating to endometrial or cervical malignancy were excluded. As this is a non-interventional observational study, formal ethical approval was not obtained.

RESULTS

Out of 517 women who underwent a vaginal hysterectomy for prolapse, four cases of endometrial carcinoma were identified giving an incidence of 0.8%.

CONCLUSIONS

Conserving a prolapsed uterus without further investigations runs the risk of missing women with endometrial malignancy.