Endometrial evaluation with transvaginal US and hysterosonography in asymptomatic postmenopausal women with breast cancer receiving tamoxifen

Radiology. 2001 Sep;220(3):765-73. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2203010011.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine performance characteristics of transvaginal ultrasonography (US) and hysterosonography for diagnosing endometrial abnormality in asymptomatic postmenopausal women with breast cancer receiving tamoxifen.

Materials and methods: The authors prospectively examined 138 women receiving tamoxifen by using transvaginal US, hysterosonography, and office hysteroscopy. The combined hysteroscopic-histopathologic diagnosis was the reference standard. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and likelihood ratios of transvaginal US and hysterosonography were calculated.

Results: All 138 women underwent transvaginal US; 104, successful hysterosonography; and 117, successful hysteroscopy. Uterine abnormality was present in 47 (40.2%) of 117 women: 45 with polyps and two with submucosal fibroids. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed 6 mm to be the optimal endometrial thickness cutoff for diagnosing endometrial abnormalities. When a thickness greater than 6 mm or a focal endometrial finding was considered abnormal, transvaginal US had a sensitivity of 85.1% and a specificity of 55.7%. In 92 women who completed transvaginal US, hysterosonography, and hysteroscopy, hysterosonography was more specific (79.2%; P =.008) but not significantly more sensitive (89.7%; P =.508) than transvaginal US. When women with abnormal transvaginal US findings were further examined with hysterosonography, the sequential combination of transvaginal US and hysterosonography was more specific (77.1%) than transvaginal US alone (P <.001), without a significant decrease in sensitivity (78.7%; P =.25).

Conclusion: In asymptomatic postmenopausal women receiving tamoxifen, 6 mm is the optimal endometrial thickness cutoff for diagnosing endometrial abnormalities with transvaginal US. Further examination with hysterosonography can improve specificity by reducing the high false-positive rate of transvaginal US.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / adverse effects*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Endometrium / diagnostic imaging*
  • Endometrium / drug effects*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hysteroscopy
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Postmenopause*
  • Prospective Studies
  • ROC Curve
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tamoxifen / adverse effects*
  • Ultrasonography
  • Uterus / diagnostic imaging*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Tamoxifen