Asymptomatic endometrial thickening in postmenopausal women: predictor of malignant pathology?

It is not standardised what is the endometrial thickness that discriminates between normal and potentially malignant. The objective of this study was to determine the endometrial thickness cut-off point from which the risk of endometrial cancer (EC) increases in asymptomatic postmenopausal women; and to evaluate the risk factors linked to malignant endometrial pathology as well as other associated ultrasound findings.This was a retrospective observational study that included hysteroscopies performed at the Hospital Materno-Infantil on 267 asymptomatic menopausal women with an increase in endometrial thickness (AET) >5 mm, from 2015 to 2019. The results shows that the prevalence of malignant pathology in asymptomatic postmenopausal women with a casual finding of endometrial thickening was 3.7%. This percentage was 16.3% when the cut-off point of AET was established at 10 mm. There was a significant association for the diagnosis of malignant pathology with this cut-off point.There is a significant association between the 10 mm endometrial thickness cut-off point from which the risk of EC increases in asymptomatic postmenopausal women.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Several studies have established the cut-off point for asymptomatic endometrial thickening (AET) for atypical endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer at 10 mm. Although no cut-off point has optimal accuracy for the diagnosis of malignant endometrial pathology, it has been found that with a cut-off value of AET >10 mm no cases are missed. Likewise, a cut-off point of AET > 11 mm may provide a balance between cancer detection and histopathological workup extension.What do the results of this study add? A significant association was found at the cut-off point of AET > 10 mm, which suggests that screening postmenopausal women at this thickness is acceptable and unlikely to miss cases of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? After analysing our results we can conclude, like other published studies, that by establishing a cut-off point of 10 mm we obtain a good discrimination between benign and malignant pathology, which would allow us to diagnose 100% of malignant pathology. Above this cut-off point, the risk of endometrial cancer increases, and it would therefore be advisable to extend the study. A multicentre study is needed to confirm the cut-off point at which the risk of endometrial cancer increases in postmenopausal women with asymptomatic endometrial thickening.

Role of hysteroscopy during conservative management of atypical endometrial hyperplasia and early-stage endometrial cancer in patients who desire pregnancy.

Twenty-five percent of cases of endometrial cancer appear in women with unfulfilled reproductive desires. An adequate selection of patients and a close hysteroscopic follow-up to monitor the endometrial response to the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) may be a valid and safe option for these patients. This is a case series and review of the literature study. We included eight patients diagnosed of complex endometrial hyperplasia with atypia (CEHA) or stage 1AG1 well-differentiated endometrial cancer without myometrial invasion who desired to get pregnant and opted for a conservative treatment. Follow-up was performed with hysteroscopy and directed biopsy at 3, 6 and 12 months. Of the 854 cases of complex endometrial hyperplasia with atypia (CEHA)/endometrial cancer were diagnosed, 2.3% were candidates for conservative management. We obtained a favourable regression of 71.2% at 6 months and 57% at one year with hormonal treatment. Conservative treatment in complex endometrial hyperplasia with atypia (CEHA)/low-grade endometrial cancer in reproductive age patients with a strong desire for pregnancy is feasible.

Application of quality tools in the management of a gynecologic surgery program: impact on outcomes / Impacto en los resultados en salud de incorporar herramientas de calidad a la gestión del programa quirúrgico en ginecología

Objective: To study the outcomes of various types of hysterectomy over a 12-year period (2002-2015) in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at a public tertiary care hospital in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Study population: Patients scheduled to undergo abdominal hysterectomy, vaginal hysterectomy, or laparoscopic hysterectomy for both benign and malignant disease. Outcome measures: Primary diagnosis, mean hospital stay, surgery-related variables, and perioperative complications (organ injury, infections, venous thromboembolism, hemorrhage, reintervention). Results: The rate of minimally invasive hysterectomy procedures (laparoscopic or vaginal) increased from 27% to 45% (p < 0.0001). The overall complication rate decreased from 38.2% to 14.5% (p < 0.0001). On the whole, surgery-related infectious morbidity decreased from 19.9% to 4% (p < 0.0001). The frequency of major hemorrhages requiring blood transfusion decreased significantly from 15.5% to 4.7% (p < 0.0001). Mean hospital stay decreased for both abdominal and vaginal hysterectomies (from 8.4 to 5 days and from 6 to 3.4 days respectively, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The rate of postoperative complications decreased significantly over the 12-year study period. Today, hysterectomy is a safer procedure than 15 years ago (AU)

Objetivo: evaluar la evolución experimentada en 10 años de los resultados en el procedimiento de histerectomía para un mismo servicio, el servicio de obstetricia y ginecología del Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno Infantil de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, centro sanitario público de tercer nivel. La hipótesis de estudio es que los cambios introducidos en la práctica quirúrgica y cuidados de los pacientes han sido determinantes para conseguir mejorar los resultados en salud. Diseño: estudio de cohortes retrospectivo. Población: pacientes a las que se les realizó histerectomía en nuestro centro por alguna de las tres vías de abordaje (laparotómica, vaginal y laparoscópica) en procesos oncológicos y no oncológicos. Variables estudiadas: diagnóstico que motivó la intervención, complicaciones quirúrgicas atribuidas a la realización de la histerectomía (infección, lesión de órgano, hemorragia, reintervención, etc.), estancia media del ingreso. Resultados: el número de histerectomías realizadas por abordaje menos invasivos (vaginal o laparoscópica) se incrementó del 27% al 45% (p < 0,0001). La tasa global de complicaciones asociada al programa de histerectomías disminuyó de 38,2% a 14,5% p < 0,0001. La incidencia de morbilidad infecciosa evolucionó de un 19,9% a un 4% p < 0,0001; la incidencia de hemorragia que precisó transfusión pasó de un 15,5% a un 4,7% p < 0,0001. La estancia media asociada al procedimiento disminuye de 8,4 a 5 días para las histerectomías abdominales y de 6 a 3,4 días para las histerectomías por vía vaginal p < 0,0001. Conclusiones: realizar una histerectomía hoy en nuestro centro es más seguro que hace 10 años. La tasa global de complicaciones asociadas al procedimiento de histerectomía disminuyó en nuestro servicio de forma notable en la última década (AU)