A new method that facilitates the diagnosis of endometrial cancer: the ratio of endometrial thickness to the full thickness of the uterine wall and subcutaneous adipose tissue measurements.

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between some risk factors and endometrial pathologies determined by transvaginal sonography (TVS), as well as the diagnostic predictive values of serum oestradiol (E2) levels, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) thickness, endometrium thickness (ET), and the ratio of ET to uterine wall full thickness (UWT) in differential diagnosis of malignant, precancerous, and benign pathologies of endometrium in patients with postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) or with asymptomatic increased endometrial thickness.

Material and methods: The study was conducted with 211 women who applied to the hospital with complaints of PMB or ET of 5 mm or more in their routine controls. Venous blood samples were taken for complete blood count and the measurement of E2 levels. Patients also underwent TVS; ET, UWT, and the ratio of ET to UWT were measured.

Results: Menopausal age and body mass index averages were significantly higher in atypical hyperplasia and endometrial cancer (EC) groups. Endometrial thickness and endometrial thickness/uterine wall full thickness ratio measured by TVS were significantly higher in all precancerous pathologies and EC. Subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness was significantly higher in all precancerous pathologies and EC. Oestradiol levels were higher in the atypical hyperplasia and EC groups.

Conclusions: Postmenopausal bleeding is a common symptom of EC, but in some cases this disease may occur asymptomatically. Measurement of the endometrium thickness, and the ratio of endometrium thickness/uterine wall full thickness and SAT thickness by sonography has a high predictive value for this disease.