Asymptomatic Thickened Endometrium; Are we Over-Diagnosing it
Keywords:
Endometrial Cancer, Endometrial Thickness, Transvaginal Ultrasound, Endometrial Sampling, Postmenopausal WomenAbstract
Endometrial carcinoma ECA is frequently presented as post-menopausal bleeding among symptomatic postmenopausal women (PMW). Fortunately, the prognosis of this malignancy is good once discovered early. The underlying pathology of ECA was closely correlated to thickened endometrium by trans-vaginal ultrasound, which was set at 4mm for symptomatic PMW. However, that was not the case for asymptomatic cases. The dilemma of incidental thickened endometrium on ultrasound reports of asymptomatic PMW was discussed in this review. We examined the usefulness of mass screening of asymptomatic PMW by transvaginal ultrasound and the recommended normal endometrial thickness and its cutoff value. Endometrial sampling indications, methods, and complications were addressed. The role of biomarkers in screening and their limitation. We aimed to deliver up-to-date evidence of a common problem in medical practice.
