[The value of various parameters for ultrasound assessment of the postmenopausal endometrium with reference to benign and malignant neoplasms].

In 101 postmenopausal patients, ultrasonic findings of endometrium were compared with the histopathology. Object of this study was the evaluation of several sonomorphological parameters for detection of benign and malignant endometrial neoplasms in order to derive criteria for an ultrasonic screening of these lesions in postmenopausal women. The maximum endometrial sonographic thickness was found to be the main parameter, yet was itself too insensitive and unspecific as a single parameter. Homogeneity, echogeneity and presence of a median echo, represent important additional parameters. The sonographic longitudinal diameter of the uterus cannot serve as a screening parameter similar to the amplified ultrasonic intensity through the endometrium and the low resonant subendometrial zone, but defines a collective risk referring to endometrial neoplasms and hyperplasias. The criteria derived from this are very sensitive and specific in our sample. That is the reason, why we think, that ultrasonic examination of the endometrium is an important step in early diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma.