Risks and benefits of hysteroscopy and endometrial sampling as a standard procedure for assessing serendipitous findings of endometrial thickening in postmenopausal women

Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2014 Dec;54(6):597-9. doi: 10.1111/ajo.12259. Epub 2014 Oct 11.

Abstract

A retrospective study was undertaken of 35 asymptomatic postmenopausal women undergoing hysteroscopy, dilatation and curettage (H D&C) for an incidental finding of thickened endometrium to assess the rate of significant pathological findings, cost per finding and complication rate of any procedures performed. This study found one case of endometrial adenocarcinoma (1/35; 3%) at an estimated cost per significant finding of $507,116 with an estimated 11.6 complication events per finding.

Keywords: asymptomatic; endometrial neoplasms; endometrial thickness; hysteroscopy; postmenopause.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Australia
  • Biopsy
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine / economics
  • Dilatation and Curettage / adverse effects*
  • Dilatation and Curettage / economics
  • Endometrial Hyperplasia / pathology
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Endometrium / diagnostic imaging
  • Endometrium / pathology*
  • Female
  • Health Care Costs*
  • Humans
  • Hysteroscopy / adverse effects*
  • Hysteroscopy / economics
  • Incidental Findings
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyps / pathology*
  • Postmenopause
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Ultrasonography