Wernicke's encephalopathy: a case report and MRI findings.

Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) is a serious, potentially fatal acute or subacute neurological disorder caused by thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency. Although it is most frequently observed in patients who are chronic alcoholics, WE may also be associated with hyperemesis gravidarum. We report magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) findings in this case of WE in a pregnant patient with hyperemesis gravidarum. We conclude that DWI should be included in the imaging protocols of patients suspected to suffer from Wernicke's encephalopathy.

Clinical evaluation of vulvar lichen sclerosus: case series.

INTRODUCTION: Vulvar lichen sclerosus is a chronic dermatitis which is located in labial, perineal and perianal areas. The etiology of lichen sclerosus is multifactorial including genetic, autoimmune, hormonal and infectious aspects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out of the medical records of 82 patients who were suffering from pruritus vulva. All patients had vulvar biopsy-proven diagnosis of lichen sclerosus. RESULTS: Sixty-six of patients (80.4%) were in the postmenopausal period and 16 patients (19.5%) were in the premenopausal phase. Fifteen patients (18.2%) had thyroid disease, six had (7.3%) diabetes mellitus, five had (6.09%) asthma and five patients had (6.09%) other autoimmune diseases. Lichen sclerosus was most commonly located on the labia majora--58 cases (70.7%). Sixty-four patients (78.04%) had used only potent corticosteroid therapy as the sole treatment. CONCLUSION: The first-line treatment is topical-potent or ultra-potent corticosteroids in the treatment of lichen sclerosis. Vulvar lichen sclerosis may be associated with autoimmune and thyroid diseases.

Relation between Doppler findings and perinatal outcomes in fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: To find the relationship between fetal Doppler findings and perinatal outcomes in intrauterine growth restriction. METHODS: Eighty-two cases with a prenatal diagnosis of intrauterine growth restriction between November 2008 and July 2009 were included in this prospective study at Ege University School of Medicine. Fetuses were grouped according to Doppler parameters: those with normal Doppler findings (n = 43), and those with impaired arterial (n = 27) and venous systems (n = 12). RESULTS: Out of 82 growth restricted cases, 43 (52.4%) had normal Doppler findings, while 27 (32.9%) displayed impaired arterial parameters and 12 (14.6%) had impaired venous parameters. The mean first minute Apgar scores were 7.57 +/- 1.53 for the group with normal Doppler flows, 6.8 +/- 2 for the group with an impaired arterial system, and 4 +/- 1.94 for the group with an impaired venous system. Two cases from the normal Doppler flow group (n = 42), four cases from the impaired arterial flow group (n = 27), and 11 cases from the impaired venous flow group (n = 11) had fifth minute Apgar scores under 6. Evaluation of the umbilical artery blood gas revealed acidosis in two cases from the normal Doppler flow group (n = 42), three cases from the impaired arterial system group (n = 27), and five cases from the impaired venous system group (n = 11). CONCLUSION: A Doppler spectrum from normal to venous system impairment correlated with poor fetal outcomes including fetal acidosis, fetal mortality and morbidity, decreased Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min, and neonatal morbidity.

Clinical symptoms and histopathological findings in subjects with adenomyosis uteri.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical symptoms and histopathological findings in subjects with adenomyosis uteri. METHOD: Infiltration depth and spread of adenomyotic foci together with clinical symptoms and findings were compared in a total of 103 subjects who had undergone hysterectomy and were diagnosed with adenomyosis uteri through histopathological examinations. RESULTS: The spread of adenomyotic foci in myometrial tissues was observed to significantly increase as the depth of myometrial infiltration increased in subjects with adenomyosis (p < 0.05). It was observed that there was significantly higher myometrial infiltration depth in subjects with dysmenorrhea and severe anemia, and diffuse adenomyotic foci in subjects with menometrorrhagia (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Increased infiltration depth and spread of adenomyotic foci in myometrial tissues in subjects with adenomyosis uteri were studied. When clinical symptoms and findings in subjects with adenomyosis, such as dysmenorrhea, anemia and menometrorrhagia are compared with these histopathological findings, infiltration depth and spread of adenomyotic foci appear to determine the clinical severity of adenomyosis.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of cell proliferation and apoptosis markers in ovaries and uterus of tamoxifen-treated rats.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of cell proliferation and apoptosis markers in the ovaries and uterus of tamoxifen-treated rats. Twelve rats (150-200 g) were divided into two equal groups. The study group received daily intraperitoneal injections of tamoxifen dissolved in 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (n= 6). The control group received only the vehicle (n= 6). The rats were sacrificed at the 20th day of injection and were perfused. The ovaries and uterus of the rats were extracted. The sections were immunohistochemically stained with cell proliferation marker Ki-67 and the apoptosis markers PTEN and CD95. The expressions of the markers were quantified by a semiquantitative H-score method in myometrium, endometrial glands, ovarian surface epithelium, ovarian follicles, corpus luteum, and ovarian stroma separately. The mean H-scores of CD95 and PTEN obtained from myometrium, glandular endometrium, ovarian surface epithelium, ovarian follicles, corpus luteum, and ovarian stroma did not show significant difference between the study and the control groups. Proliferative index (Ki-67) of endometrial glands was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, proliferative index (Ki-67) of corpus luteum was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Tamoxifen treatment has a potential to stimulate the cell proliferation of endometrial glands and corpus luteum in tamoxifen-treated rats. Apoptosis markers of PTEN and CD95 did not demonstrate significant difference after the tamoxifen treatment.

Adenomyosis: prevalence, risk factors, symptoms and clinical findings.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective study investigated the prevalence of adenomyosis in histopathological examinations of patients who had undergone hysterectomy due to various indications in our clinic. Epidemiological characteristics, predisposing risk factors, symptoms and clinical findings of adenomyosis were evaluated. METHOD: A total of 298 subjects who had undergone abdominal, vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomy with/without salpingooophorectomy between October 2003 and April 2004 in our clinic were included. Uterine specimens obtained through hysterectomy were weighed and histopathologically examined in the Pathology Department of Ege University. The study group (n = 103), cases with adenomyosis, was compared with the control group (n=195), cases without adenomyosis, with respect to the epidemiological, clinical and histopathological characteristics. RESULTS: The prevalence of adenomyosis in 298 subjects was 36.2% (103). Duration of the reproductive period in patients with adenomyosis was found to be significantly longer than for those in the control group (p < 0.05). Prevalence of pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia was also significantly higher in the study group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the number of cases requiring blood transfusion before the operation was significantly higher in the study group (p < 0.05) as were the rates of smoking, previous uterine surgery and nulliparity (p < 0.05). The most common gynecological condition accompanying adenomyosis was found to be uterine myoma in both groups, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSION: Adenomyosis is not a rare histopathological finding. Due to diagnostic and therapeutic methods which are being developed as an alternative to hysterectomy, the clinical effects of adenomyosis and its association with other gynecological conditions, adenomyosis appears to be an issue which will be more intensively investigated in the future.

MMAC tumor supressor gene expression in ovarian endometriosis and ovarian adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of MMAC1 protein in the relationship between ovarian endometriosis and clear cell and endometrioid-type ovarian adenocarcinomas. METHODS: A total of 63 subjects who underwent surgery for a pelvic tumoral mass, 30 of whom were diagnosed with grade 1 to 3 ovarian adenocarcinoma and 33 of whom were diagnosed with grade 1 to 4 endometriosis during histopathological examination were included in this study. The mean age for subjects with ovarian endometrioid type adenocarcinoma was 51.8 +/- 12.4, whereas the mean age for subjects with ovarian clear cell type adenocarcinoma was 59.5 +/- 13.7. Ovarian carcinomas were graded in accordance with the FIGO 1989 grading system. The mean age for subjects with endometriosis was 37 +/- 11.9. New sections were obtained from paraffin blocks in the archives of Ege University, School of Medicine, Department of Pathology onto lysinated slides and immunohistochemical staining by using mouse monoclonal antibody (MMAC1, 28H6 clone, Novocastra, UK) as MMAC antibody was applied in order to determine MMAC1 protein. Brown staining on the nucleus was considered as positive immunoreactivity. Immunoreactive staining was evaluated as percentage staining over the whole preparative. RESULTS: Of the 63 subjects included in the immunohistochemical study, ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma was identified in 18 subjects, while 12 subjects were diagnosed with ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma and 33 subjects with ovarian endometriosis. No significant relationships were observed between age and MMAC immune staining in the ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma (r = -0.41, p = 0.08) and ovarian endometriosis (r = 0.12, p = 0.50) groups, whereas a significant relationship was observed in the ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma group (r = 0.631, p = 0.02). No significant relationships were observed between CA125 levels and MMAC immune staining in the ovarian endometrioide adenocarcinoma (r = 0.056, p = 0.82), ovarian endometriosis (r = 0.21, p = 0.36) and ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma (r = 0.363, p = 0.24) groups. No correlations were observed between endometriosis stages and the MMAC immune staining (r = -0.17, p = 0.92). There was no correlation between mean diameter of endometrioma and MMAC immune staining (r = -0.230, p = 198). Mean endometrioma diameter was 5.7 +/- 3.5 (1-15.5). No correlations were detected between MMAC immune staining and ovarian endometrioide adenocarcinoma or ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma stage (r = -0.22, p = 0.37; r = 0.44, p = 0.14, respectively). No significant relationships with respect to MMAC immune staining were detected between the endometriosis and ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma groups (p = 0.05) and between the ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma and ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinoma groups (p = 0.27). A significant relationship with respect to MMAC immune staining was observed between ovarian endometrioide adenocarcinoma and endometriosis groups (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical determination of MMAC defective protein expressions could be considered for utilization as a new, simple and useful technique in determination of endometriosis patients with increased risk of malignant transformation, patients where early surgical treatment would be necessary and patients that should be subjected to follow-up controls with a higher frequency.

Comparison of human papillomavirus testing and cervical cytology with colposcopic examination and biopsy in cervical cancer screening in a cohort of patients with Sjogren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate women with Sjögren Syndrome by using cervical cytology, colposcopic examination and HPV-DNA testing and to compare these findings with those obtained from the control group. METHOD: A total of 100 women, who were referred to Ege University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for cervical cytological screening between September 2004 and March 2005 and 33 of whom had Sjögren syndrome were included in this study. The patients were informed and subjected to cervical cytology, colposcopic examination and HPV-DNA testing. Colposcopic biopsy and endocervical canal curettage were carried out in cases of suspicious colposcopic examination and cytological findings. The findings obtained from 33 women with Sjögren syndrome and 67 subjects in the control group were compared. RESULTS: Normal cervical cytology was detected in five women (5.7%), while suspicious cervical cytology was reported in 62 women (92.5%) in the control group. The prevalence of normal cytology in patients with Sjögren syndrome was 93.9% (n = 31), where 6.1% (n = 2) of the women had suspicious cervical cytology findings. HPV-DNA findings were negative in 66 women (98.5%) in the control group, where the test result of one women (1.5%) was positive. HPV-DNA findings of patients with Sjögren syndrome were positive in one women (3%) and negative in 32 (97%). Colposcopic findings were normal in 63 women (94%) in the control group, where abnormal colposcopic findings were observed in four women (6%). Normal colposcopic findings were observed in 32 women (97%) with Sjögren syndrome, while pathological findings were recorded in one woman (3%). Suspicious cervical cytology, positive findings at colposcopic examination and biopsy and positive HPV-DNA tests were observed together in only one 40-year-old woman who was diagnosed with Sjögren syndrome for a period of four years. Prevalence of dyspareunia and vaginal dryness (atrophic vaginitis) symptoms were observed in Sjögren syndrome and control groups as 36.3% and 22.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: No significant differences were observed between Sjögren syndrome and the control group who were evaluated by using cervical cytology, colposcopic examination and HPV-DNA tests. A higher prevalence of dyspareunia and vaginal dryness were observed in patients with Sjögren syndrome, yet this difference was not considered as significant with respect to either colposcopic or histopathological findings.

Laparoscopic resection or sonography-guided vaginal aspiration of endometriomas prior to ICSI-ET does not worsen treatment outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of the management modality of ovarian endometriomas on ovarian response to COH (controlled ovarian hyperstimulation) and ART (assisted reproductive technology) treatment outcome. DESIGN: Retrospective case control study. SETTING: Ege University Infertility-Family Planning Research and Treatment Center. PATIENTS: 115 cycles of 84 patients who underwent ICSI-ET (intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer) with ejaculated sperm were enrolled in the study. The endometrioma resection group (Group I) was comprised of 36 cycles in 29 patients who were treated with laparoscopic endometrioma cyst resection prior to treatment; endometrioma aspiration (Group II) was comprised of 26 cycles in 15 patients whose endometriomas were aspirated prior to treatment; and the control group (Group III) was comprised of 53 cycles in 40 patients for whom the only infertility cause was the tubal factor. INTERVENTIONS: ICSI-ET treatment, laparascopic ovarian endometrioma cyst resection, transvaginal ultrasonography-guided endometrioma cyst aspiration. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: COH results and ICSI-ET treatment outcomes. RESULTS: The groups were similar in all characteristics except for the mean age of the patients in group II being older than those in group I. Gonadotropin consumption was higher, peak estradiol level lower, and the number of oocytes less in the laparascopic resection group (Group I) with respect to the control group. The number of follicles was lower in the cyst aspiration group (Group II) with respect to the control group. The number of follicles larger than 15 mm, number of metaphase II oocytes, the fertilization, pregnancy and implantation rates were similar in all three groups. CONCLUSION: Interventions (laparascopic endometrioma resection, transvaginal ultrasound-guided endometrioma cyst aspiration) performed on endometriomas prior to ART treatment do not worsen the treatment outcome.

In vitro effects of ritodrine, magnesium sulfate and their combination on spontaneous contractions of myometrial strips of pregnant rat uteri.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate in vitro effects of ritodrine, magnesium sulfate and their combination on spontaneous contractions of myometrial strips obtained from pregnant rat uteri. METHOD: A total of 13 pregnant Sprague Dawley rats with weights between 180-200 g were used in this study. Three strips from each rat were kept in an organ bath containing 20 ml Krebs-Henseleit solution (pH: 7.4 and 37 degrees C). 10(-8) 10(-6) and 10(-4) M concentrations of ritodrine, magnesium sulfate and the combination was applied over myometrial strips in Groups I (n: 10), II (n: 10) and III (n: 8), respectively. Amplitude and frequency of spontaneous myometrial contractions, which were recorded at the beginning of each experiment, were considered as reference values. Amplitude and frequency changes in spontaneous myometrial contractions were calculated at approximately ten-minute intervals right after the application of drugs as the percentage of difference at the first reference response. RESULTS: Magnesium sulfate application did not lead to any significant difference on the amplitude and frequency of contractions at any of its concentrations. 10 and 10(-4) M concentrations of ritodrine caused a significant decrease in the amplitude of contractions. It was also found that ritodrine significantly decreased the frequency values at all concentrations. A significant decrease in amplitude was observed at 10(-8) and 10(-6) M concentrations in the combination group. No significant decrease in frequency values was found at any concentration in the combination group. CONCLUSION: The tocolytic effect of ritodrine is superior to that of magnesium sulfate.

Evaluation of VEGF in placental bed biopsies from preeclamptic women by immunohistochemistry.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine VEGF protein with immunohistochemical staining in placental bed biopsies of preeclamptic pregnancies in comparison to normal controls. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: The placental bed biopsies were obtained from 12 patients with preeclapmsia and ten patients for a control group at the time of cesarean delivery. Tissue samples of the placental bed were examined for VEGF protein distribution with avidin-biotin-peroxidase immunohistochemistry. Two blinded histopathologists were asked to score each sample for the intensity of staining and the number of cells stained in a randomly selected HPF of each sample. The resulting "H-score" was computed as a product of intensity and percent of cells stained. RESULTS: VEGF expression was significantly lower in both the myometrium and stroma of the preeclamptic group compared to the control group (77.2 +/- 25.4 vs 134 +/- 44.3, p = 0.007; 194.1 +/- 20.7 vs 170.2 +/- 17, p = 0.017, respectively). CONCLUSION: VEGF expression is significantly lower in placental bed biopsies of preeclamptic pregnancies.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of PTEN protein in patients with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia compared to endometrial adenocarcinoma and proliferative phase endometrium.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to reclassify endometrial hyperplasia cases and examine PTEN protein immunoreactivity compared to cases with endometrial adenocarcinoma and proliferative endometrium. DESIGN: Endometrial samples from 37 women with endometrial hyperplasia with atypia were reclassified as endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN). Eighteen were complex and 19 were simple endometrial hyperplasia. Twenty-our cases of EIN, ten endometrial adenocarcinoma cases and ten proliferative phase endometrium sections were immunostained for PTEN expression. PTEN expression was documented according to the degree of immunoreactivity as complete loss, partial loss and present. RESULTS: Twenty-four of 37 (64%) women with endometrial hyperplasia were reclassified as EIN. Complete loss of PTEN immunoreactivity was found in only one of the 24 EIN patients (4.2%), partial loss in eight of 24 (33.3%) and present in 15 of 24 (62.5%). There were no difference in PTEN immunoreactivity between EIN, endometrial adenocarcinoma and endometrial proliferation (p = 0.342). PTEN immunoreactivity was partially lost in seven and present in three of the patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma. None of the patients expressed complete loss of PTEN immunoreactivity in this group. CONCLUSION: EIN classification may provide a better and more objective assessment of endometrial hyperplasia cases. PTEN expression showed no differences among the cases of EIN, endometrial carcinoma and proliferative phase endometrium.

Arsenic trioxide exposure to ovarian carcinoma cells leads to decreased level of topoisomerase II and cytotoxicity.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3)) on topoisomerase II levels using western blotting method on MDAH 2774 ovarian carcinoma cell culture. Experimental designs were established to determine the cytotoxic effects of As(2)O(3) on MDAH 2774 cells and the IC50 (fatal dose for the 50% of cells) value. Cytotoxicity experiments were carried out using various concentrations of As(2)O(3). The 2,3-bis[2-methyloxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) and trypan blue dye-exclusion tests were used to evaluate cytotoxicity. Topoisomerase II expressions were investigated using western blotting method with various concentrations of As(2)O(3). Densitometric analysis of topoisomerase 2 bands was carried out using Quantity One 1-D analysis software (Bio-Rad USA, Life Science Research, Hercules, CA). IC50 value of As(2)O(3) was found to be 5 x 10(-6) M for MDAH 2774 cells. When the bands were evaluated, it was observed that there was a decrease in topoisomerase II levels in MDAH 2774 cells with increasing concentrations of As(2)O(3). It was also observed by the densitometric analysis that topoisomerase II expression ratios of MDAH 2774 cells were decreased by approximately 50% at this concentration. Topoisomerase II levels were significantly decreased with the increasing concentrations of As(2)O(3). Inhibition of topoisomerase II enzyme was one of the antiproliferative influence mechanisms of As(2)O(3).

Proliferative effects of different hormone regimens on mammary glands in ovariectomized rats.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the proliferative effect of different hormone regimens and estrogen receptor modulation on mammary glands in a rat model of surgical menopause. DESIGN: Experimental animal study. SETTING: University Hospital. INTERVENTION: In a rat model of surgical menopause, 78 adult Sprague Dawley female rats were ovariectomized and treated with estrogen, estrogen combined with continuous or intermittent progesterone or the estrogen receptor modulator raloxifene and their respective vehicle controls. Following intraperitoneal drug administration for 20 days, rats were perfused, mammary glands were removed, tissues were processed for immunohistochemical (Ki-67) and hematoxylin-eosin staining, and investigated under light microscope. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Histopathological examination of mammary glands and Ki-67 positive cells (proliferation index). RESULTS: Histological examination showed dilatation in the duct cysts and vacuolization in the epithelial cells in groups receiving progestin, either intermittent or continuous. Histological findings in the raloxifene group were no different from the control group, and the atrophic terminal ductal lobular unit in adipose tissue rich stroma was similar to postmenopausal breast. In animals with a proliferative response, increased proliferation started and dominated in the terminal ductal lobular unit epithelium. Comparison of Ki-67 proliferation indices between groups revealed that estrogen alone or combined with intermittent progesterone yielded significantly higher Ki-67 indices compared to controls; estrogen combined with continuous progesterone also resulted in increasing the probability of proliferation, but the effect was not as pronounced as the other two groups. Raloxifene treatment, on the other hand, did not cause proliferation. CONCLUSION: Estrogen alone or combined with progesterone may increase the risk of breast cancer by enhancing proliferation in the TDLU; raloxifen does not induce proliferation and may be a safe estrogen receptor modulator regarding its effects on mammary glands during menopause.

Does raloxifene therapy affect mammographic breast cancer screening in postmenopausal patients?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine mammographic breast density changes during raloxifene therapy in postmenopausal patients MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-five cases who were using raloxifen therapy were included in this retrospective analysis. Raloxifene was given for osteopenia and osteoporosis according to low bone mineral density measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). None of the patients were using hormone replacement therapy 12 months before the initiation of raloxifene treatment or during the study. Mammographic breast density was determined by mammography before the initiation of raloxifene treatment (baseline) and after 12 to 16 months of therapy. The Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) breast density score was used for the evaluation of mammographic density. RESULTS: There was no change in mammographic breast density when the baseline and the first mammography taken after the initiation of therapy were compared (p = 0.32). There was no significant correlation between the duration of raloxifene treatment and mammographic density measured after raloxifene treatment (r = -0.158, p = 0.25). Only in one patient did the BI-RADS classification of 2 change to 3 after 12 months of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, raloxifene therapy for 12 to 16 months does not increase mammographic breast density in postmenopausal women with low bone mass.

Transvaginal sonography combined with saline contrast sonohysterography to evaluate the uterine cavity in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding and postmenopausal endometrium more than 5 mm.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether saline contrast sonohysterography (SCSH) gives additional information to that obtained by transvaginal sonography (TVS) for predicting endometrial abnormality in premenopausal, menopausal and postmenopausal patients with abnormal uterine bleeding and postmenopausal patients with endometrial thickness > 5 mm. METHODS: This was a prospective study at the Ege University Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic in Izmir, Turkey. Patients presenting with abnormal bleeding related to uterine pathologies, postmenopausal patients with endometrial thickness more than 5 mm and scheduled for surgical treatment were prospectively included in our study conducted between 1 July, 2000 and 31 January, 2002. The uterine cavity was first evaluated with TVS in 53 premenopausal, menopausal, postmenopausal patients with abnormal uterine bleeding and postmenopausal patients whose endometrial thickness was > 5 mm measured by conventional ultrasound examination. SCSH was carried out later with the intention of establishing further surgical management (hysterectomy). Twenty of the patients had operative hysterectomy within the 1.5 year period of time. The presence of focally growing lesions and the type of lesion (endometrial polyp, submucous myoma, malignancy or unclear focal lesion) were noted at ultrasound examination and at hysteroscopy, and then hysterectomy material was examined by Ege University's Pathology Department which provided a detailed evaluation of the uterine cavity. RESULTS: Based on normal endometrial morphology alone, the results for detection of an abnormal uterine cavity were as follows: sensitivity of TVS 0.94, SCSH 0.97; specificity of TVS 0.56, SCSH 0.62; positive predictive value of TVS 0.79, SCSH 0.81; negative predictive value of TVS 0.83, SCSH 0.93. Transvaginal sonography combined with SCSH was superior to TVS for detection of intracavitary abnormalities. When normal endometrial morphology was combined with an endometrial thickness of < 12 mm for evaluation of all abnormalities including hyperplasia, the diagnostic potential of TVS or SCSH was almost unchanged. Transvaginal sonography missed 24% of the polyps. CONCLUSIONS: Sonohysterography was a sensitive tool and was superior to TVS used alone for evaluation of the uterine cavity in patients who underwent operative surgery for abnormal uterine bleeding.