Abstract

There are a number of different causes of endometrial fluid collections. Hematometra, hematocolpos, pregnancy and its complications, pelvic inflammatory disease, menstruation or exogenous estrogen administration have been reported to cause uterine fluid collections. The sonographically detected endometrial cavity fluid in the postmenopausal women has been described as indicative of uterine malignancy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether sonographic detection of the endometrial cavity fluid might be useful in the evaluation of gynecologic neoplasm. The results were as follows; 1) The sonographic detection rate of endometrial fluid in endometrial hyperplasia, endome- trial cancerm uterine myoma, cervical cancer, benign ovarian tumor were 33%(8/24), 50% (3/6), 11%(7/66), 9%(1/l1), 10%(l/10) respectively. 2) The sonographic detection rate of endometrial cavity fluid in vaginal bleeding was 56%(66/ 117) which was not significantly higher than that of other sy mptoms. 3) The sonographic detection rate(37%) of endometrial fluid in endometrial hyperplasia and cancer was significantly higher than that of other gynecologic neoplasms(10%)(P<0.05). 4) The frequency(10/1l) of vaginal bleeding in endometrial hyperplasia and cancer with endometrial cavity fluid detected by ultrasonography was significantly higher than that of other gynecologic neoplasms(P < 0.05). 5) The amounts of endometrial cavity fluid(mean+1SD) were 1.76+-1.35ml in endometrial hyperplasia, 2.33+-1.16m1 in endometrial cancer, 1.76+-1.35ml in uterine myoma, 8.00+-0.00ml in cervical cancer and 1.000.00ml in benign ovarian tumor. 6) In premenopausal and postmenopausal women, endometrial fluid collections were found in 15(18%) and 5(15%) cases respectively and there was no significant difference between the two groups.

• Keywords: Endometrial cavity fluid, Ultrasonography, Gynecologic neoplasm