TITLE:
Doppler Study of Uterine Artery and Ultrasonography of Endometrial Thickness in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Bleeding
AUTHORS:
Shaimaa Belal, Manal Abdel-Wanees Al-Sayed, Hany Mahmoud Abd El Hamid, Hesham Mohammed Hamed
KEYWORDS:
Doppler Study, Uterine Artery, Ultrasonography, Endometrial Thickness
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.12 No.4,
April
27,
2022
ABSTRACT: Background: Transvaginal color Doppler sonography of the uterine artery has been reported useful for
evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding in peri-/post-menopausal women. It may
differentiate physiological from malignant endometrial changes. Objective: Evaluating the endometrial thickness and uterine artery Doppler as an initial
diagnostic tool to identify patients with abnormal endometrial pathology. Methods: This is a prospective case control study consisted of total 50 women with
peri-(n = 35) and post-(n = 15) menopausal bleeding, with 20 women consisting
control group (no bleeding) (peri-(n = 10)
and post-menopausal (n = 10)). Double layer endometrial thickness and
uterine-artery-Doppler waveforms were measured, with the latter being S/D
ratio, RI and PI. These were related to histological findings (endometrial biopsy). Result: Patients with
abnormal uterine bleeding (both peri- and postmenopausal) had a significantly
higher mean endometrial thickness than the control women. Study group showed a significantly lower value of
all Doppler indices (S/D ratio, RI and PI). In study group, patients with malignant endometrial
pathology showed significantly thicker endometrium and significantly lower
Doppler indices than those with benign pathology. Conclusion: The combination
of endometrial thickness and uterine artery color Doppler pattern might predict
uterine endometrial malignancy, although whether it can discriminate (screen)
patients requiring endometrial biopsy is not evident. Further study is needed.