Diagnostic Strategies for Postmenopausal Bleeding

Postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) is a common clinical problem. Patients with PMB have 10%–15% chance of having endometrial carcinoma and therefore the diagnostic workup is aimed at excluding malignancy. Patient characteristics can alter the probability of having endometrial carcinoma in patients with P...

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Main Authors: M. C. Breijer, A. Timmermans, H. C. van Doorn, B. W. J. Mol, B. C. Opmeer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2010-01-01
Series:Obstetrics and Gynecology International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/850812
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author M. C. Breijer
A. Timmermans
H. C. van Doorn
B. W. J. Mol
B. C. Opmeer
author_facet M. C. Breijer
A. Timmermans
H. C. van Doorn
B. W. J. Mol
B. C. Opmeer
author_sort M. C. Breijer
collection DOAJ
description Postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) is a common clinical problem. Patients with PMB have 10%–15% chance of having endometrial carcinoma and therefore the diagnostic workup is aimed at excluding malignancy. Patient characteristics can alter the probability of having endometrial carcinoma in patients with PMB; in certain groups of patients the incidence has been reported to be as high as 29%. Transvaginal sonography (TVS) is used as a first step in the diagnostic workup, but different authors have come to different conclusions assessing the accuracy of TVS for excluding endometrial carcinoma. Diagnostic procedures obtaining material for histological assessment (e.g., dilatation and curettage, hysteroscopy, and endometrial biopsy) can be more accurate but are also more invasive. The best diagnostic strategy for diagnosing endometrial carcinoma in patients with PMB still remains controversial. Future research should be focussed on achieving a higher accuracy of different diagnostic strategies.
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spelling doaj-art-4cea331ba3b14ebb90e9cf7609477c572025-08-20T03:34:19ZengWileyObstetrics and Gynecology International1687-95891687-95972010-01-01201010.1155/2010/850812850812Diagnostic Strategies for Postmenopausal BleedingM. C. Breijer0A. Timmermans1H. C. van Doorn2B. W. J. Mol3B. C. Opmeer4Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erasmus MC, s-Gravendijkwal 230, 3015 CE Rotterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment Obstetrics and Gynecology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The NetherlandsDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPostmenopausal bleeding (PMB) is a common clinical problem. Patients with PMB have 10%–15% chance of having endometrial carcinoma and therefore the diagnostic workup is aimed at excluding malignancy. Patient characteristics can alter the probability of having endometrial carcinoma in patients with PMB; in certain groups of patients the incidence has been reported to be as high as 29%. Transvaginal sonography (TVS) is used as a first step in the diagnostic workup, but different authors have come to different conclusions assessing the accuracy of TVS for excluding endometrial carcinoma. Diagnostic procedures obtaining material for histological assessment (e.g., dilatation and curettage, hysteroscopy, and endometrial biopsy) can be more accurate but are also more invasive. The best diagnostic strategy for diagnosing endometrial carcinoma in patients with PMB still remains controversial. Future research should be focussed on achieving a higher accuracy of different diagnostic strategies.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/850812
spellingShingle M. C. Breijer
A. Timmermans
H. C. van Doorn
B. W. J. Mol
B. C. Opmeer
Diagnostic Strategies for Postmenopausal Bleeding
Obstetrics and Gynecology International
title Diagnostic Strategies for Postmenopausal Bleeding
title_full Diagnostic Strategies for Postmenopausal Bleeding
title_fullStr Diagnostic Strategies for Postmenopausal Bleeding
title_full_unstemmed Diagnostic Strategies for Postmenopausal Bleeding
title_short Diagnostic Strategies for Postmenopausal Bleeding
title_sort diagnostic strategies for postmenopausal bleeding
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2010/850812
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