Concordance between the Hysteroscopic Diagnosis of Endometrial Hyperplasia and Histopathological Examination

Chinese guidelines on the management of endometrial hyperplasia

• Endometrial hyperplasia can be classified as either hyperplasia without atypia or atypical hyperplasia. • Abnormal uterine bleeding is the most common symptom of endometrial hyperplasia. Transvaginal ultrasound is recommended for initial imaging to evaluate endometrial hyperplasia (evidence level 2+), while transrectal ultrasound is recommended for virgo patients (evidence level 3). • Endometrial biopsy should be used to confirm diagnosis in patients where endometrial lesions are suspected. Effective histological approaches to make definite diagnoses include diagnostic curettage (evidence level 2++), hysteroscopic-guided biopsy (evidence level 2+) and endometrial aspiration biopsy (evidence level 2-). • Progesterone is the preferred medication for the treatment of endometrial hyperplasia without atypia. Compared to oral progestins, placement of a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) has been associated with higher regression rates, lower recurrence rates and fewer adverse events which can be the initial treatment method. (Meta evidence level 1-, RCT evidence level 2+). Ultrasound and endometrial biopsies should be performed every 6 months during treatment to evaluate its effect and treatment should continue until no pathological changes are observed in two consecutive endometrial biopsies. Hysterectomy is not the preferred choice of treatment for patients with endometrial hyperplasia without atypia. • Minimally invasive hysterectomy is indicated for patients with endometrial atypical hyperplasia (evidence level 1+), bilateral fallopian tubes should also be removed (evidence level 2+). In cases where surgery cannot be tolerated, fertility is desired or the patient is younger than 45 years old, medical therapy is recommended (evidence level 3). LNG-IUS is the preferred medical therapy method (evidence level 2+). Endometrial pathologic evaluation should be performed every 3 months during conservative treatments, with adjustments made to dosages or approaches based on observed response to medication. Treatment should continue until no pathological changes are detected in two consecutive endometrial biopsies (evidence level 2++). There is no indication of sentinel lymph nodes biopsy and/or lymphadenectomy for hyperplasia with or without atypia. • Total hysterectomy is recommended to treat patients with recurrent endometrial atypical hyperplasia (evidence level 3); however, medical conservative therapy may be considered for patients hoping to become pregnant in the future. • Patients with fully regressed disease who would like to become pregnant should be advised to seek assistance through assisted reproductive technologies (evidence level 3). • Long-term follow-up is suggested for patients after endometrial hyperplasia treatment (evidence level 2+). Patient education is imperative for improving medication adherence, increasing regression rates and lowering recurrence rates (evidence level 3).

A Predictive Model for Endometrial Carcinoma Based on Hysteroscopic Data

Objective

The purpose is to establish a model to predict endometrial carcinoma and assess its value in the preliminary diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma.

Methods

The data of 381 patients undergoing hysteroscopy were incorporated into the model, including 282 cases in the training cohort and 99 cases in the validation cohort. Significant morphological indexes were selected using the chi-square test and subjected to the binary logistic regression analysis. Besides, the scoring interval was set, and the nomogram of the prediction model was established. Model calibration curves were drawn using the data from the validation cohort. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Sir Run Run Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, and written informed consent was obtained from the patients.

Results

The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the model were 96.7%, 92.3%, 77.3%, and 99.0%, respectively. Analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curve in the training cohort showed an area under the curve of 0.984 (95% CI: 0.974-0.995). The receiver operating characteristic curve in the validation cohort revealed an area under the curve of 0.976 (95% CI: 0.950-1.000). The calibration curve indicated that the probability in the actual setting was consistent with that predicted by the nomogram in the training cohort.

Conclusion

Our model has high sensitivity and specificity in predicting endometrial carcinoma, and helps clinicians to make accurate diagnosis.

Recent advances in the management of postmenopausal women with non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia

Non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia is a benign disease without significant somatic genetic changes. Postmenopausal women with non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia have a significant risk of progression to endometrial cancer and persistent endometrial hyperplasia. Most cases of atypical endometrial hyperplasia in postmenopausal women are treated surgically, including hysterectomy. At present, the treatment of postmenopausal women with non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia is still controversial. Correct and timely diagnosis and treatment are of great significance to prevent progression of the lesion. This study mainly provides an updated synthesis of the literature that investigates the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of postmenopausal women with non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia. As of December 2022, a literature search related to postmenopausal non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia was conducted on the PubMed database. For most postmenopausal patients with non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia, regular re-examination should be performed during conservative treatment. For postmenopausal patients with endometrial cancer risk factors, persistent non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia or progesterone contraindications, hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy should be the first choice.

Efficacy of Oral Medications or Intrauterine Device-Delivered Progestin in Patients with Endometrial Hyperplasia with or without Atypia: A Network Meta-Analysis

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of oral medication or intrauterine device-delivered progestins in patients with endometrial hyperplasia (EH) with or without atypia. We systematically examined PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov to identify studies reporting the regression rate of patients with EH who received progestins or non-progestins. The regression rates after different treatments were compared using a network meta-analysis in terms of the relative ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Begg-Mazumdar rank correlation and funnel plots were performed to evaluate the publication bias. Five non-randomized studies and 21 randomized controlled trials involving 2268 patients were included in the network meta-analysis. The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) was associated with a higher regression rate than medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.16-1.46) in patients with EH. Among those without atypia, the LNG-IUS was associated with a higher regression rate than any of the three types of oral medications (MPA, norethisterone, or dydrogesterone (DGT)) (RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.18-1.55). According to the network meta-analysis, combining the LNG-IUS with MPA or metformin increased regression rate, while DGT was associated with the highest regression rate among all oral medications. The LNG-IUS may be the best choice for patients with EH, and combining it with MPA or metformin may further improve its efficacy. DGT may be the preferred choice for patients who are unwilling to use the LNG-IUS or who cannot tolerate its side effects.

Quality of Life, Anxiety and Depression in Women Treated with Hysteroscopic Endometrial Resection or Ablation for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background and Objectives: Hysteroscopic endometrial resection (ER) or global endometrial ablation (GEA) are feasible methods to treat heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was to assess patient's quality of life (QoL) in women treated with ER/GEA compared to hysterectomy. Materials and Methods: Electronic searches in MEDLINE Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, EMBASE, PROSPERO and Cochrane CENTRAL were conducted from their inception to July 2022. Inclusion criteria were RCTs of premenopausal women with HMB randomized to conservative surgical treatment (ER/GEA) or hysterectomy. The primary outcome was the evaluation of QoL using the SF-36 score. Results: Twelve RCTs (2773 women) were included in the analysis. Women treated with hysteroscopic ER/GEA showed significantly lower scores for the SF-36 general health perception (mean difference (MD) -8.56 [95% CI -11.75 to -5.36]; I2 = 0%), social function (MD -12.90 [95% CI -23.90 to -1.68]; I2 = 91%), emotional role limitation (MD -4.64 [95% CI -8.43 to -0.85]; I2 = 0%) and vitality (MD -8.01 [95% CI -14.73 to -1.30]; I2 = 74%) domains relative to hysterectomy. Anxiety, depression scores and complication rates were similar between treatments. Relative to uterine balloon therapy, amenorrhea was more common with EA/GER (relative risk 1.51 [95% CI 1.03 to 1.20] I2 = 28%), but posttreatment satisfaction was similar. Conclusions: Women's perception of QoL might be seen to be less improved after hysteroscopic ER/GEA rather than hysterectomy. However, such findings need to be confirmed by additional trials due to the high number of outdated studies and recent improvements in hysteroscopic instrumentation and techniques.

Implementation of Office Hysteroscopy for the Evaluation and Treatment of Intrauterine Pathology

Hysteroscopy provides a minimally invasive strategy to evaluate intrauterine pathology and manage conditions such as abnormal uterine bleeding, infertility, intrauterine adhesions, müllerian anomalies, and intrauterine foreign bodies. Increasing access to hysteroscopy procedures in the office has the potential to improve patient care by minimizing financial and logistical barriers, aiding in streamlined diagnosis and treatment planning, and potentially averting unnecessary operative procedures and anesthesia. Office hysteroscopy refers to procedures performed in outpatient settings where pain management involves no medications, oral nonsedating medications, local anesthetic agents, or oral or inhaled conscious sedation. We present best practices for the implementation of hysteroscopy in an office setting. These include appropriate patient selection, optimal procedural timing, cervical preparation for patients at highest risk of cervical stenosis or pain with dilation, individualized pain-management strategies, use of distension media, and video monitoring to engage patients in the procedure. We describe miniaturized equipment for use in the office setting and "no-touch" vaginoscopic approaches to limit patient discomfort. With appropriate training and experience, office hysteroscopy presents a simple and cost-effective modality for optimizing gynecologic care for our patients.

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in Perimenopausal Women: The Role of Hysteroscopy and Its Impact on Quality of Life and Sexuality

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a frequent symptom in perimenopausal women. It is defined as uterine bleeding in which the duration, frequency, or amount of bleeding is considered excessive and negatively affects the woman’s quality of life (QoL) and psychological well-being. In cases of structural uterine pathology, hysterectomy (usually performed via a minimally invasive approach) offers definitive symptom relief and is associated with long-lasting improvement of QoL and sexuality. However, over the past 30 years, uterus-preserving treatments have been introduced as alternatives to hysterectomy. Hysteroscopic polypectomy, myomectomy, or endometrial resection/endometrial ablation are minimally invasive techniques that can be used as an alternative to hysterectomy to treat AUB due to benign conditions. Although associated with high patient satisfaction and short-term improvement in their QoL, hysteroscopic treatments do not eliminate the risk of AUB recurrence or the need for further intervention. Therefore, considering the impact of different treatment options on QoL and sexuality during preoperative shared decision making could help identify the most appropriate and personalized treatment options for perimenopausal women suffering from AUB.

Endometrial Cancer Management in Young Women

Endometrial cancer (EC) rarely develops in young women. Most cases are associated with known risk factors: BMI > 30, history of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOs), and race differentiation. The molecular EC classification based on The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network divides these heterogeneous cancers into four types: Polymerase Epsilon Mutation (POLE), Microsatellite Instability (MSI), Copy Number Low (CNL), and Copy Number High (CNH). This division was introduced to allow for early assessment of neoplastic changes and clinical management, including targeted therapies. The basic technique for imaging endometrium changes is transvaginal sonography. Hysteroscopy is the standard for obtaining endometrial material for histological evaluation. The MRI result permits assessment of the extent of EC cancer infiltration. In young women who want to preserve fertility, apart from surgery, conservative management is often implemented after strict selection based on clinical and pathological data. This pharmacological treatment involves the administration of progestogens MPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate) and MA (megestrol acetate). The use of metformin may increase the effectiveness of such treatment. An alternative option is to apply progestogens locally—via the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device. In addition to pharmacological treatment, hysteroscopic resection may be used—part of the uterine muscle adjacent to the pathologically changed endometrium may also undergo resection. An alternative is the administration of estrogen receptor modulators (e.g., SERMs) or aromatase inhibitors, or GnRH agonists.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Hysteroscopic Scoring System in Predicting Endometrial Malignancy and Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia

Aims and Objectives:

The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of a hysteroscopic scoring system in predicting endometrial cancer and endometrial hyperplasia with atypia.

Materials and Methods:

This is a prospective study involving 95 peri and postmenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding who underwent hysteroscopic-guided endometrial biopsy. After the calculation of hysteroscopic score, biopsy was obtained and sent for histopathological examination. Hysteroscopic diagnosis of carcinoma endometrium was made when the total score was ≥16 and a score ≥7 supported a diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia with atypia.

Results:

Out of the 95 women, 46 (48.4%) women had postmenopausal bleeding. The mean age of women was 50.4 ± 10.3 years. Eight women were diagnosed to have endometrial cancer and eight had endometrial hyperplasia with atypia on histopathological examination. Using a hysteroscopy score ≥16, the sensitivity and specificity were found to be 62.5% and 90.8%, respectively, for diagnosing endometrial cancer. Hysteroscopy score ≥9 was found to be a better cutoff for diagnosing endometrial cancer using Youden index. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for diagnosing endometrial cancer with score ≥9 was 100%, 67.8%, 22.2%, and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV for diagnosing endometrial hyperplasia with atypia with score ≥7 was found to be 75%, 58.6%, 14.3%, and 96.2%, respectively.

Conclusion:

The hysteroscopic scoring system has a good diagnostic performance when a cutoff score ≥9 is used in predicting endometrial cancer. However, the scoring system has lower diagnostic accuracy in predicting endometrial hyperplasia with atypia.

Hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy: from indications to instrumentation and techniques. A call to action

During the last twenty years, the diagnostic approach to endometrial pathology has radically evolved. For over a century, intrauterine blind biopsy techniques were considered the gold standard procedure for the histopathological diagnosis of intrauterine diseases. The advent of hysteroscopy, which made it possible to directly visualize the uterine cavity, and the subsequent miniaturization of the instruments allowing its use in the office setting without anesthesia are considered game-changers. To date, it is feasible to retrieve a targeted eye specimen of endometrial tissue with little or no discomfort for the patient in the office setting. To pursue this aim, several technological upgrades have improved the diagnostic accuracy of hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy. In this paper we provide an up-to-date review of the latest evidence regarding indications, instrumentations, and techniques for hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy, to help the operator in providing an adequate endometrial sampling for histopathological analysis.

Hysteroscopic treatments for endometrial malignancies and premalignancies: state of the art

Endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) is the most common gynecologic malignancy worldwide. One in four cases will be diagnosed before menopause. Endometrial atypical hyperplasia (EAH) is a precursor of endometrial cancer and tends to occur at a young age. Those who have early stage, grade 1 EEC or EAH and wish to preserve their fertility can be managed with hormonal therapy. Hysteroscopic treatment in addition to progestin therapy has been used more commonly in the last decade. Herein, a review of available data on hysteroscopic treatment in EEC and EAH is presented.

A Mini-Review of Office Hysteroscopic Techniques for Endometrial Tissue Sampling in Postmenopausal Bleeding

Postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) is a common cause for a gynecological visit. Endometrial cancer risk varies from 3% to 25% in women with PMB. There is a significant concern of malignancy of the endometrium and the endocervical canal by a physician in postmenopausal women, and hence, most prefer operating room hysteroscopies with dilation and curettage (D & C) compared to in-office procedures. With increased availablility of miniaturized instruments such as mini- resectoscope and tissue removal systems, there is high likelihood of blind D & C being replaced by hysteroscopic- guided targetted biopsy or visual D & C. The cost-effectiveness of office hysteroscopy is also well demonstrated. In December 2020, an electronic search was performed of PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Library to look for articles on office hysteroscopic biopsy techniques in postmenopausal women from 2010 to 2020. Relevant studies were included where various office hysteroscopic techniques are used for endometrial sampling in PMB. Studies with 5 Fr scissors, biopsy forceps, crocodile forceps, cup forceps, bipolar electrode, in-office tissue removal system (morcellator), flexible hysteroscope, and mini-resectoscope were included. Standard reference was used as an adequate endometrial sample for histology. The objective of this review is to explore the current evidence on different office hysteroscopic techniques available for endometrial tissue sampling in PMB.

Abnormal uterine bleeding types according to the PALM-COEIN FIGO classification in a medically underserved American community

Objective

To describe the distribution of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) type according to the polyp (AUB-P); adenomyosis (AUB-A); leiomyoma (AUB-L); malignancy and hyperplasia (AUB-M); coagulopathy (AUB-C); ovulatory dysfunction (AUB-O); endometrial (AUB-E); iatrogenic (AUB-I); and not yet classified International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics classification system in a medically underserved American inner-city population. Our secondary objective was to find an association between risk factors and type of AUB.

Material and Methods

We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional analysis at our outpatient women’s health clinic located in the Bronx, New York City, from November 2016 to December 2019.

Results

Among 390 patients, the most common AUB type was AUB-L (n=185, 47.4%), followed AUB-P (n=100, 25.6%), AUB-A (n=55, 14.1%), AUB-O (n=19, 4.9%), AUB-M (n=15, 3.8%), AUB-E (n=14, 3.6%) and AUB-I (n=2, 0.5%). Race was distributed as follows: Hispanic (68.2%), Black (25.9%), Caucasian (3.3%), and Asian (2.1%). Comorbidities included hypertension (36.4%), diabetes (15.6%), and thyroid disease (6.9%). The median age at diagnosis was significantly higher in AUB-M (59 years old, p<0.001), AUB-P (52.5 years old, p<0.001), AUB-E (51.5 years old, p=0.001) compared to AUB-L (46 years old). The median body mass index (BMI) was significantly higher in AUB-E (34.2 kg/m², p=0.048) and AUB-O (32.6 kg/m², p=0.038) compared to AUB-L (30 kg/m²). Race was equally distributed among the AUB types. AUB-M (66.6%, p=0.002), AUB-E (57.1%, p=0.022), AUB-P (47%, p<0.001), and AUB-A (30.8%, p<0.001), had statistically significantly more cases of hypertension compared to AUB-L (28.1%). AUB-P (27%, p<0.001), AUB-M (26.6%, p=0.025), AUB-E (35.7%, p=0.001) and AUB-A (9%, p<0.001) had more patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) than AUB-L (3.3%).

Conclusion

In an American population of medically underserved patients, the most common cause of AUB was leiomyoma and the most common race was Hispanic. Women with AUB-L were younger, with lower BMI, and with fewer cases of hypertension and DM when compared to other types of AUB.

New development on hysteroscopy for endometrial cancer diagnosis: state of the art

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic cancer diagnosed in developed countries and represents the second most frequent gynecologic cancer-related cause of death following ovarian cancer. There are 2 subtypes of EC. Type I tumors (endometrioid adenocarcinoma) representing 85-90% of the cases. They are likely to be low-grade tumors and are thought to have a link to estrogen exposure. Type II tumors represent 10-15% of EC. They are characterized as high-grade carcinomas, with serous or clear cell histology type, and carry poor prognoses. The benefits of hysteroscopy in achieving a targeted endometrial biopsy under direct visualization over blind biopsy techniques are widely accepted. Hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy is performed under direct visualization and is the only technique that allows for the selective biopsy of targeted areas of the endometrium. There is no screening protocol for the early detection of EC. Among the general population, advanced age, obesity, nulliparity and the use of exogenous hormones are known as risk factors for EC. There are additional situations that portend an increased risk of EC that deserve special consideration such as in patients diagnosed with Lynch Syndrome, using tamoxifen, obese, or the young patient with a desire for future fertility. We presented a narrative review of the current role of hysteroscopy for the diagnosis of endometrial cancer.

Role of uterine manipulator during laparoscopic endometrial cancer treatment

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most frequent gynecologic malignancy with 61,000 new cases diagnosed per year in the USA. Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) LAP2 randomized study demonstrated a superimposable 5-year overall survival between laparotomic and laparoscopic approaches in EC treatment. In this context the uterine manipulator (UM) represents a valuable tool in order to increase the ergonomics of surgical gesture during a laparoscopic total hysterectomy. Despite the proven safety of the minimally invasive approach in EC treatment, neither the indication whether to use or not, nor the recommendation concerning a specific type of UM are provided by international guidelines. This narrative review aims to collect all the main findings in the literature about UM use to investigate its safety in EC patients. Based on the analysis of the literature research, the main results were categorized into two manipulator-related problems: the iatrogenic LVSI, and the retrograde tumor spillage. LVSI is defined as the presence of tumor cells within an endothelium-lined space. An electronic search was performed using the following keywords: 'uterine manipulator', and 'endometrial cancer'. The electronic database search provided a total of 93 studies. Of whom, 12 case reports, 5 studies not in English language, and 65 works not fitting the review scope were excluded from the analysis. Eleven studies were considered eligible for the purpose of the study. The most recent studies have highlighted the safety of the uterine manipulator in the early-stage EC laparoscopic treatment. All types of manipulators are considered to be fairly safe but its application should be tailored according to tumor dimension and grade of myometrial infiltration.

Hysteroscopy in the management of endometrial hyperplasia and cancer in reproductive aged women: new developments and current perspectives

Over the last twenty years, the incidence of early endometrial cancer (EC) and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) among women of reproductive age is increasing rapidly, likely due to a combination of factors including increased prevalence of obesity and delayed of childbirths. Regarding preoperative diagnosis of endometrial neoplasia, it is still debated which is the most accurate and reliable method to obtain endometrial histopathological samples with fractional dilatation and curettage (D&C) having been considered, for a long time, as the method of choice. Nowadays, the advent of in-office endometrial biopsy with or without hysteroscopy has radically changed the approach, giving the opportunity to perform the endometrial biopsy under direct visualization. However, the lack of agreement about its diagnostic accuracy is still relevant. Since a significant number of women with AEH and/or EC are of childbearing age, a fertility-sparing diagnostic and therapeutic approach should be considered in all cases. The feasibility, safety and efficacy of fertility-sparing strategies involving hysteroscopic focal resections in conjunction with hormonal therapies have been evaluated and beneficial effects have been confirmed in several studies and one meta-analysis. Both local and systemic administration of hormonal therapies are currently used. Oral progestin, including medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and megestrol acetate, are the most commonly used therapies. Nowadays, new therapeutic approaches, such as levonorgestrel intrauterine systems (LNG-IUS), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, combined megestrol acetate and metformin, and other combinations of therapies are also used as first line therapies or after the hysteroscopic resection of the lesion. However, it is still unclear which approach provides higher clinical response with lower relapse rate, in addition to preserving fertility in women desiring to conceive. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the available evidence regarding the evaluation and management with fertility-sparing treatments options of women with AEC and EC.

Novelties of ultrasound imaging for endometrial cancer preoperative workup

INTRODUCTION

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most frequent gynecological cancer. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) plays a leading role in the preoperative workup and often is the first diagnostic instrumental examination. Despite expert hands' ultrasound is recommended to assess myometrial invasion in early stage EC, this method is a strictly operator-dependent examination, and varying degrees of sensitivity and specificity have been reported. The present review aims to provide an update of ultrasound imaging in the preoperative work-up for EC patients.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A double-blind search was performed from May to September 2020. The following keywords: "ultrasound," "transvaginal ultrasound" and "endometrial cancer" were searched in Pubmed search engines, Scopus, and Web of Science. The Prisma statement was followed for the selection of the articles included.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

The initial search provided 958 studies, of which 11 were included in the analysis. non-English articles, not relevant to the purposes of this study, case reports and articles with fewer than 40 cases were excluded.

CONCLUSIONS

TVU sensitivity and specificity in myometrial infiltration and cervical invasion is comparable to MRI but has lower costs, greater patient tolerability, and does not require contrast agents. An expert operator should perform the ultrasound examination in patients with suspected EC The presence of myometrial lesions, such as leiomyomas, could lower the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound, so special attention should be paid to patients with concomitant uterine lesions.

A Clinical Comparative Study of Two Different Endometrial Cell Samplers for Evaluation of Endometrial Lesions by Cytopathological Diagnosis

Purpose

Cytopathology detecting for endometrial cancer is becoming accepted, and Tao Brush is the most widely used sampler for endometrial cells. This study aims to compare the effectiveness between Li brushes and Tao brushes for the diagnosis of endometrial lesions and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of endometrial cytology compared with histology.

Methods

There were 109 patients needing dilation and curettage (D&C) and 21 patients needing hysterectomies included from November 2017 to April 2018. Every patient was sampled by Tao brush and Li brush before D&C or hysterectomy performed. The cytological results were compared based on the gold standard histological results of D&C or hysterectomy.

Results

The sensitivity of Li brush cytology for detecting endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia was estimated at 83.33%, specificity at 100%, positive predictive value (PPV) at 100%, and negative predictive value (NPV) at 98.02%, respectively. While for the Tao brush, it was 91.67% of sensitivity, 96.04% of specificity, 73.33% of PPV, and 98.98% of NPV, respectively. The kappa value was 0.767, which indicated a substantial agreement. Cytology by both two brushes had a lower insufficient sample rate (2.75% of Tao brush, 4.59% of Li brush) than did D&C (11.93%).

Discussion

Endometrial cytology is a reliable approach for evaluating endometrium with a lower insufficient sample rate. Cytology sampled by both Li brushes and Tao brushes has a high accuracy with histological diagnosis in detecting endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia. Combining social and economic benefits, the Li brush may be a better endometrial cell collector.

Hysteroscopic and ultrasonographic evaluation of ulipristal acetate treatment for symptomatic myomas in premenopausal women: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze the effects of a six-month therapy with ulipristal acetate (UPA) on myoma size and endometrial thickness in premenopausal women.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Seventy-four women undergoing conservative therapy with UPA were enrolled for this study. All women underwent transvaginal ultrasound evaluation to assess the endometrial thickness, and the number and size of myomas at the beginning and after six months. Hysteroscopy and biopsy were performed after six months, if necessary.

RESULTS

After six months of treatment, sonographic examination showed a statistically significant (p < .05) reduction of the size of the largest myoma (56.3 ± 5.1 vs. 31.7 ± 10.1 mm) and a statistically significant (p < .05) increase in endometrial thickness (5.9 ± 2.1 vs. 9.7 ± 3.4 mm). Twenty-two patients with endometrial thickness >10 mm or nonhomogeneous pattern and ten patients with metrorrhagia underwent hysteroscopy: the most frequent finding was the combination of endometrial hypotrophy, floating surface, and chicken-wire vascular pattern aspect (14 cases, 43.7%). Histologic findings showed no case of complex hyperplasia.

CONCLUSION

UPA is a safe, effective and assured method to decrease symptoms, reduce the need for surgery in premenopausal women suitable for the treatment.

Fertility preservation in endometrial cancer patients: options, challenges and perspectives

Several different approaches have been designed by physicians in order to preserve fertility in younger patients with endometrial carcinoma. There are various options offering different advantages, but hysteroscopic resection of pathologic endometrial tissue with placement of a Levonorgestrel Intrauterine Device has proven to be the most successful in allowing patients to conceive and give birth afterwards. However, conservative treatments should only be considered in patients with low-grade and low-stage endometrial tumours. There are many published studies which have sought out a preferable approach to treating endometrial cancer whilst preserving fertility. However, more research on this matter is needed to allow a better understanding as to which techniques/approaches are optimal. In this review, we will summarise the current available treatment options for endometrial cancer in patients of reproductive age.

Office hysteroscopy in the management of women with postmenopausal bleeding

Postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) is a relevant aspect for health-care providers in clinical practice: the first objective is to rule out potential gynecological cancer. The purpose of this narrative review is to evaluate the role of office hysteroscopy in the management of PMB. Office hysteroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure allowing direct visualization of uterine pathology without the need for general anesthesia and the use of an operating room, generating cost savings and greater compliance among patients. Here, we focus on major intrauterine diseases (polyps, submucosal myomas, endometrial hyperplasia, and cancer) as causes of PMB. Office hysteroscopy appears to be safe and feasible, and could allow accurate diagnosis of intrauterine pathologies, especially that with a focal growth pattern, otherwise misdiagnosed with blinded procedures. However, studies focusing exclusively on postmenopausal women are still few, so further research, especially randomized controlled trials, is needed.

Updates in office hysteroscopy: a practical decalogue to perform a correct procedure

Nowadays, hysteroscopy is the gold standard for the diagnosis and treatment of intrauterine pathologies as it represents a safe and minimally invasive procedure that allows the visualization of the entire uterine cavity. Numerous technological innovations have occurred over the past few years, contributing to the development and widespread use of this technique. In particular, the new small-diameter hysteroscopes are equipped with an operating channel in which different mechanical instruments can be inserted, and they allow not only to examine the cervical canal and uterine cavity but also to perform biopsies or treat benign diseases in a relatively short time without anesthesia and in an outpatient setting. In this scenario, the operator must be able to perform hysteroscopy in the correct way to make this procedure increasingly safe and painless for the patient. This review aims to describe the ten steps to perform a correct office hysteroscopy, starting from patient counseling to the therapy after the procedure.

The Prognostic Significance of Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factors (eIFs) in Endometrial Cancer

Whilst the role of eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs) has already been investigated in several human cancers, their role in endometrial cancer (EC) is relatively unknown. In the present retrospective study, 279 patients with EC (1180 samples) were included (mean age: 63.0 years, mean follow-up: 6.1 years). Samples were analysed for expression of 7 eIFs subunits (eIF2α, eIF3c, eIF3h, eIF4e, eIF4g, eIF5, eIF6) through immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Fifteen samples of healthy endometrium served as controls. Density and intensity were assessed and mean combined scores (CS) calculated for each patient. Upon immunohistochemistry, median eIF5 CS were significantly higher in EC as compared with non-neoplastic tissue (NNT, p < 0.001), whilst median eIF6 CS were significantly lower in EC (p < 0.001). Moreover, eIF5 (p = 0.002), eIF6 (p = 0.032) and eIF4g CS (p = 0.014) were significantly different when comparing NNT with EC grading types. Median eIF4g CS was higher in type II EC (p = 0.034). Upon western blot analysis, eIF4g (p < 0.001), peIF2α (p < 0.001) and eIF3h (p < 0.05) were significantly overexpressed in EC, while expression of eIF3c was significantly reduced in EC as compared with NNT (p < 0.001). The remaining eIFs were non-significant. Besides tumour stage (p < 0.001) and patient’s age (p < 0.001), high eIF4g CS-levels were independently associated with poor prognosis (HR: 1.604, 95%CI: 1.037–2.483, p = 0.034). The other eIFs had no prognostic significance. Notably, the independent prognostic significance of eIF4g was lost when adding tumour type. Considering the difficulties in differentiating EC type I and II, eIF4g may serve as a novel prognostic marker indicating patient outcome.