Asymptomatic postmenopausal women with endometrial thickness 10mm or greater are likely to have endometrial malignancy, suggests a study published in the journal Menopause.¹

Researchers from China analysed clinical and pathological features in 163 asymptomatic postmenopausal women with increased endometrial thickness (≥5mm) detected incidentally on transvaginal ultrasound examination conducted between January 2018 and March 2021. Histopathology features were used to categorise women into benign and malignant groups. The cut-off value of endometrial thickness that was predictive of endometrial malignancy was also determined.

Examination of data revealed a significant difference in the endometrial thickness between the two groups. The endometrial thickness (median) was 1.20 in the malignant group compared to 0.80 in the benign group. A 10mm thickness of the endometrium was found to be the optimum cut-off value with 100% sensitivity and 80% specificity for the diagnosis of endometrial malignancy. Forty-seven women had endometrial thickness ≥10mm; compared to women with endometrial thickness <10mm, 6.3% women with endometrial thickness ≥ 10mm had endometrial carcinoma.

This retrospective analysis has shown higher prevalence of endometrial malignancy among women with endometrial thickness ≥10mm. These women should undergo further histopathological testing with endometrial biopsy for timely detection of malignancy. However, the authors advocate the need for more studies to verify their findings and confirm “the predictive value of endometrial thickness”.

Reference

1. Fangfang Ai, et al. Clinicopathological features of endometrial lesions in asymptomatic postmenopausal women with thickened endometrium. Menopause. 2022 Aug 1;29(8):952-956. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001993.