Title:Contribution of Pelvic Ultrasonography in Perimenopausal Abnormal
Uterine Bleeding
Volume: 20
Issue: 6
Author(s): Radhouane Achour*, Hiba Mkadmi and Rim Ben Hmid
Affiliation:
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Emergency Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Maternity and Neonatology Center
of Tunis, El Manar University of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia
- Research Laboratory “Embryo-fetal development disorder
and placenta”, Tunis, LR18SP05, Tunisia
Keywords:
Perimenopause, metrorrhagia, ultrasound, gynecologic pathologies, clinical-ultrasound correlation, diagnostic and therapeutic presumption.
Abstract:
Background: About 70% of gynecological consultations for women in perimenopause
are due to metrorrhagia. In most cases, they are only the witness of hormonal disturbances resulting
from a luteal deficiency. Transvaginal ultrasound is the first innocuous and available additional
examination that is requested as part of an etiological assessment.
Objective: Our study aims to evaluate the contribution of ultrasonography in perimenopausal metrorrhagia
and investigate possible clinical-ultrasound correlation.
Methods: This analytical descriptive study was carried out on 50 treated for perimenopausal metrorrhagia
in the emergency department of the Tunis Maternity and Neonatology Center for four
months (November 1, 2017, to February 28, 2018). We included in our study patients who were
not yet postmenopausal who were ≥ 45 years of age, and who sought care for breakthrough bleeding.
All patients in our study initially underwent endovaginal ultrasonography, sometimes coupled
with suprapubic ultrasonography.
Results: The mean age of our patients was 46.3 years. Pelvic ultrasonography revealed an enlarged
uterus in 16 patients (32%), with 14 of them having fibromatous uteri measuring between 3
to 10 centimeters. The findings indicate no significant correlation between ultrasound results and
bleeding abundance (P = 0.321), pelvic pain (P = 0.108), and general condition (P = 0.437).
Conclusion: Endovaginal pelvic ultrasonography is a quick, painless test and is the first test to be
done first in an emergency department with perimenopausal vaginal bleeding. The correlation between
clinical and ultrasound findings is highly random, making it impossible to assume a well--
coded diagnostic and therapeutic presumption.
