Potential risk factors for caesarean scar pregnancy: a retrospective case-control study.

STUDY QUESTION: What are the important risk factors for having a caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP)? SUMMARY ANSWER: Independent risk factors were smoking in the first trimester, higher parity, and previous caesarean section (CS) before the index caesarean delivery. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: A spectrum of risk factors for CSP has been suggested but not proven: parity, number of previous caesarean section, elective as opposed to emergency CS, IVF-pregnancy, breech presentation, previous gynaecological surgery as well as suture technique. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION: This retrospective case-control study included 31 women with a CSP during the period 2003-2018 treated at a tertiary care centre for gynaecology and reproduction. A control cohort of 8300 women with a history of a CS and a subsequent delivery during the same time period was formed. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS: Variables describing demography, lifestyle factors, and reproductive and obstetric history were retrieved from medical records and the obstetric hospital database. Logistic regression analyses were applied to identify potential risk factors. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: In a multivariable analysis, smoking in first trimester (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.03, 95% CI 1.01-9.07), higher parity (adjusted OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.03-1.64) and previous CS in addition to the preceding CS (adjusted OR 3.43, 95% CI 1.35-8.66) were independently predictive of a CSP. An elective CS at the index pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of CSP but did not remain significant in the multivariable analysis. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION: CSP is a very rare phenomenon and several of the risk factor estimates are imprecise. Nevertheless, significant risk factors could be identified. Another limitation is the lack of electronically recorded details on suture techniques. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: The identified factors, namely higher parity and previous CS before the index caesarean section, are in accordance with previously suggested risk factors. Whether there is a true risk association between elective CS and future CSP needs to be investigated further. Smoking in the first trimester is a new finding, which has a plausible rationale. These factors should be recognised when counselling women after a caesarean delivery, particularly in a subsequent pregnancy with early complications. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: This work was supported by a grant from the Swedish state under the agreement between the Swedish government and the county councils the ALF-agreement (ALFGBG-720291). None of the authors has any conflict of interest to declare.

Terms, definitions and measurements to describe the sonographic features of the endometrium and intrauterine lesions: a consensus opinion from the International Endometrial Tumor Analysis (IETA) group.

The IETA (International Endometrial Tumor Analysis group) statement is a consensus statement on terms, definitions and measurements that may be used to describe the sonographic features of the endometrium and uterine cavity on gray-scale sonography, color flow imaging and sonohysterography. The relationship between the ultrasound features described and the presence or absence of pathology is not known. However, the IETA terms and definitions may form the basis for prospective studies to predict the risk of different endometrial pathologies based on their ultrasound appearance.

Can ultrasound replace dilation and curettage? A longitudinal evaluation of postmenopausal bleeding and transvaginal sonographic measurement of the endometrium as predictors of endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate postmenopausal bleeding and transvaginal sonographic measurement of endometrial thickness as predictors of endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia in women whose cases were followed for > or =10 years after referral for postmenopausal bleeding. STUDY DESIGN: Women (n = 394) who had postmenopausal bleeding from November 1987 to October 1990 underwent transvaginal sonographic measurement of endometrial thickness and curettage. It was possible to assess the medical records (regarding recurrence of a postmenopausal bleeding, development of endometrial cancer, and death) in 339 of the 394 women (86%) > or =10 years after referral for postmenopausal bleeding. RESULTS: Thirty-nine of the 339 women (11.5%) had endometrial cancer, and 5 women (1.5%) had atypical hyperplasia. The relative risk of endometrial cancer in women who were referred for postmenopausal bleeding was 63.9 (95% CI, 46.0-88.8); the corresponding relative risk for endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia together was 72.1 (95% CI, 52.8-98.5) compared with women of the same age from the general population of the same region of Sweden. No woman with an endometrial thickness of < or =4 mm was diagnosed as having endometrial cancer. The relative risk of the development of endometrial cancer in women with an endometrial thickness of >4 mm was 44.5 (95% CI, 6.5-320.1) compared with women with an endometrial thickness of < or =4 mm. The reliability of endometrial thickness (cutoff value, < or =4 mm) as a diagnostic test for endometrial cancer was assessed: Sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 60%; positive predictive value, 25%; and negative predictive value, 100%. The incidence of endometrial cancer or atypical hyperplasia in women with an intact uterus whose cases had been followed for > or =10 years was 5.8% (15/257 women) compared with 22.7% (15/66 women) in women who had < or =1 episode of recurrent bleeding. No endometrial cancer was diagnosed in women with a recurrent postmenopausal bleeding who had an endometrial thickness of < or =4 mm at the initial scan. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal bleeding incurs a 64-fold increase risk for endometrial cancer. There was no increased risk of endometrial cancer or atypia in women who did not have recurrent bleeding, whereas women with recurrent bleeding were a high-risk group. No endometrial cancer was missed when endometrial thickness measurement (cutoff value, < or =4 mm) was used, even if the women were followed up for < or =10 years. We conclude that transvaginal sonographic scanning is an excellent tool for the determination of whether further investigation with curettage or some form of endometrial biopsy is necessary

Factors associated with endometrial thickness and uterine size in a random sample of postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate factors possibly associated with endometrial thickness and uterine size in a random sample of postmenopausal women. STUDY DESIGN: A random sample (n = 1000) of the total population of women 45 to 80 years of age, resident in the city of Göteborg, was invited to attend for a transvaginal sonography examination. Eight hundred twenty-seven women accepted the invitation and underwent a gynecologic and a transvaginal sonography examination with measurement of endometrial thickness and uterine size. The women's weight and height were measured and a blood sample for analysis of serum estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone was taken. The women also provided information regarding previous medical and gynecologic history, possible medication, and smoking habits. RESULTS: Five hundred fifty-nine women were postmenopausal, and 183 (33%) of the postmenopausal women were taking some form of hormonal substitution. Factors associated with endometrial thickness and uterine size were analyzed by means of univariate and stepwise multiple regression analyses. The current use of hormone replacement therapy was the most important factor associated with both endometrial thickness and all the uterine size parameters studied. The presence of fibroids was also associated with endometrial thickness. Other factors shown to be associated with uterine size were age, parity, smoking, hypertension, and the presence of diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS: Several of the known risk factors for endometrial cancer were shown to be associated with endometrial thickness and uterine size parameters.

Transvaginal sonography of the endometrium in a representative sample of postmenopausal women.

The aim of this study was to assess endometrial thickness using transvaginal sonography in a representative sample of postmenopausal women and to evaluate whether the technique can be used for screening of endometrial cancer. A random sample (n = 1000) of the total population of women aged 45-80 years resident in the city of Göteborg in 1993 was invited to attend for transvaginal sonography. The only exclusion criterion was hysterectomy. Transvaginal sonography was performed in 827 women. An endometrium of < or = 4 mm was not investigated further. Women with an endometrium of 5-7 mm and non-measurable cases were re-assessed 1 year later, and women with an endometrial thickness of > or = 8 mm were investigated directly with hysteroscopy and/or dilatation and curettage. A total of 559 women were postmenopausal and 183 were taking some form of hormonal substitution (33%). One case of endometrial cancer (endometrial thickness 19 mm), 23 cases of polyps without atypia (endometrial thickness 8-18 mm) and no cases of endometrial hyperplasia were diagnosed. Endometrial thicknesses were as follows (mean +/- SEM; respectively grouped as < or = 4 mm, 5-7 mm and > or = 8 mm): total population of postmenopausal women (3.4 +/- 0.1 mm, 82%, 13% and 6%); postmenopausal women without estrogens (3.0 +/- 0.1 mm, 90%, 7% and 3%); postmenopausal women on medium-potency estrogens + gestagen (5.1 +/- 0.3 mm, 49%, 40% and 11%) and women with low-potency estrogens only (3.6 +/- 0.3 mm, 85%, 6% and 9%). The prevalence of endometrial cancer was 0.2% and for benign polyps 3.2% in this representative sample of postmenopausal women. Our results do not support generalized endometrial screening with transvaginal sonography.

Transvaginal ultrasonography of the endometrium in women with postmenopausal bleeding: is it always necessary to perform an endometrial biopsy?

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate whether it was possible to abstain from performing an endometrial biopsy when endometrial thickness according to transvaginal ultrasonography was /=50 years who were referred because of postmenopausal bleeding or irregular bleeding during hormone replacement therapy. If endometrial thickness was /=5 mm underwent either curettage or endometrial biopsy. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-three women had an endometrial thickness /=5 mm. The corresponding figure when atypical hyperplasia and endometrial metastases were included was 20. 2%. CONCLUSION: If the false-negative rate of endometrial biopsy techniques is taken into account, then the combination of transvaginal ultrasonography and cervical cytologic examination is an adequate form of management for women with postmenopausal bleeding or irregular bleeding during hormone replacement therapy as long as endometrial thickness is

Factors influencing the presence of uterine cavity fluid in a random sample of asymptomatic postmenopausal women.

AIMS: To assess possible endometrial pathology and other factors influencing the presence of uterine cavity fluid in postmenopausal women. STUDY DESIGN: A random sample of 559 asymptomatic postmenopausal women, recruited from the total population, were examined by transvaginal sonography (TVS) for the presence of uterine cavity fluid. Women with uterine cavity fluid who had an endometrial thickness of > or = 8 mm (including fluid) were admitted for hysteroscopy and a dilatation and curettage (D & C), and those with <8 mm underwent a new TVS examination one year later. A medical history, including details regarding previous minor gynecological surgery, was taken from the women and from an age-matched control-group of women from the same population. RESULTS: Uterine cavity fluid was found in 8.9% (50/559) of the women. In four women with an endometrium measuring > or = 8 mm, curettage revealed polyps in three women and atrophy with a pyometra in one woman. At the one-year follow-up, 22 women who originally had an endometrial thickness<8 mm had an endometrial thickness of<5 mm; 11 women had no cavity fluid and in the remaining 11 the cavity fluid had decreased. In 17 women, endometrial thickness measured > or = 5 mm and subsequent histology showed 11 endometrial biopsies with atrophy, four endometrial polyps and two cervical polyps. The prevalence of uterine cavity fluid increased with increasing age (p<0.0001) and was increased in smokers (p<0.013) but was unaltered by the presence or absence of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). CONCLUSION: There were no indications that uterine cavity fluid was associated with malignancy. The prevalence of uterine cavity fluid increased with increasing age and was higher in smokers. We could not demonstrate an increased prevalence of fluid in HRT-users.