Objectives: Evaluation of the role of three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonographic measurement of the endometrium volume in perimenopausal women with irregular uterine bleeding.
Material and methods: We have assessed 45 women (23 postmenopausal) with 3D transvaginal probe and automatic volume measurement (VOCAL) software using Voluson V730 scanner (Kretztechnik, Austria). Additionally, doppler blood flow indices PI, RI and PSV in uterine artery as well as endometrial thickness were measured. All ultrasound data were verified by histology of the endometrial specimens removed during D&C or hysterectomy.
Results: The age of the study group ranged between 43-70 years (median 53 years). The mean volume of endometrium in women with endometrial cancer was 19.9 +/- 7.5 ml. The mean volumes measured in women with endometrial hyperplasia and normal endometrium were 12.2 +/- 7.9 ml and 7.4 +/- 4.8 ml, respectively. There was a significant difference in endometrial volume between each pair of study groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, significant differences were found in mean endometrial thickness between endometrial cancer and benign but not in hyperplastic endometrium. In contrast, there were no significant differences in study groups in mean values of Doppler blood flow indices measured in uterine artery.
Conclusion: We conclude that 3D sonography and automatic volume measurement might be used better to characterize endometrial changes in women with perimenopausal bleeding.