Study objective: To compare accuracy of vaginoscopic hysteroscopy, a new method of outpatient hysteroscopy, with that of transvaginal sonography in diagnosing intracavitary pathology in women with abnormal uterine bleeding.
Design: Retrospective comparative study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).
Setting: Department of gynecology in a tertiary care university hospital.
Patients: Three hundred ninety-seven consecutive patients.
Interventions: Vaginoscopic hysteroscopy, transvaginal sonography, and histologic evaluation of endometrium.
Measurements and main results: Findings at hysteroscopy and sonography were compared with histopathologic results, considered the gold standard diagnosis. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were 92%, 95%, 18.4, and 0.08 for vaginoscopic hysteroscopy and 67%, 87%, 5.15, and 0.38 for transvaginal sonography, respectively.
Conclusion: Vaginoscopic hysteroscopy is quick and well tolerated, and more accurate in detecting intracavitary uterine pathology than transvaginal sonography. More research is required to determine its place in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding, especially premenopausal women.