Intrauterine fluid collection in postmenopause

Introduction. During routine vaginal ultrasound in postmenopausal women it is frequently to find fluid collections in uterine cavity. The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical significance of this find, using as diagnostic methods hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy. Materials and methods. Twenty postmenopausal patients (mean age 60.6±8.9 years) with endometrial fluid collections diagnosed by intravaginal ultrasound have been studied. Endometrial thickness was less than 5 mm in 16 patients, greater than 5 mm in the other 4 patients. All patients underwent to hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy. Results. Histological examination of patients with endometrial ultrasound <5 mm showed atrophy of the endometrium, while that of patients with endometrium >5 mm deposed for endometrial hyperplasia. At ultrasound follow-up performed after one month, three months and six months from hysteroscopy, patients that showed endometrial atrophy had no more fluid collections, respectively, in 37.5%, in 43.75% and in 56, 25% of cases; in patients with endometrial hyperplasia, however, the fluid collection remained. Conclusion. Ultrasonographic finding of endometrial fluid collections when endometrium had not preneoplastic characteristics can presumably be attributed to impaired motility of the uterus and / or cervical stenosis. © Copyright 2012, CIC Edizioni Internazionali.