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Sonographic Evaluation of the Endometrium in Patients With a History or an Appearance of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Author(s) -
Peri Nagamani,
Levine Deborah
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/jum.2007.26.1.55
Subject(s) - endometrium , medicine , endometrial hyperplasia , atypia , hyperplasia , gynecology , polycystic ovary , endometrial biopsy , anovulation , biopsy , pathology , insulin resistance , obesity
Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence and significance of a thick, cystic‐appearing endometrium in association with a history or an ovarian appearance of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Methods An Institutional Review Board–approved, retrospective medical record review of sonographic studies from January 1, 1998, to December 31, 2005, found 245 patients with clinical features, a characteristic sonographic appearance of the ovaries, hormonal abnormalities, or a history of polycystic ovarian syndrome. The sonographic thickness and appearance of the endometrium (homogeneous or heterogeneous) and histologic findings on biopsy were obtained. Results Two hundred twenty‐seven patients had a homogeneous endometrium in the range of 1 to 17 mm (mean ± SD, 6.4 ± 3.1 mm); 18 patients had a heterogeneous endometrium in the range of 4 to 23 mm (mean, 13.2 ± 5.6 mm). Of the 18 patients with a heterogeneous endometrium, 9 also had a sonographic finding of tiny cystic foci within the endometrium. Of these, 5 had endometrial biopsy, resulting in 2 cases of a proliferative endometrium and 1 case each of simple hyperplasia, hyperplasia with atypia, and scant tissue. No cases of hyperplasia were present in the patients with a homogeneous endometrium. Conclusions A heterogeneous cystic endometrium is associated with the prolonged proliferative phase from chronic anovulation as well as endometrial hyperplasia.