Comparison of saline instillation sonography with trans vaginal sonography in abnormal uterine bleeding: a prospective study

In: International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2018 · vol. 7(12) , pp. 4819 · doi:10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20184706 · W2899460946
article OA: diamond CC0 ⤵ 1 in-corpus citation
AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-10

This study compared transvaginal sonography (TVS) and saline instillation sonography (SIS) against histopathology for abnormal uterine bleeding, finding SIS improved overall uterine diagnosis confidence and submucous myoma detection.

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AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-10 · read from full text

This prospective study enrolled 75 outpatient participants with abnormal uterine bleeding, performing transvaginal sonography (TVS) and saline instillation sonography (SIS) and comparing both imaging diagnoses against final histopathological findings from surgery. SIS and TVS diagnostic performance was assessed using diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. The authors reported significantly improved diagnostic confidence with SIS versus TVS (p=0.001), with a significant improvement for submucous myoma (p=0.015), while there was no significant difference for myoma remote from the endometrium, adenomyosis, and diffuse or focal endometrial abnormalities (with focal endometrial abnormality showing no advantage for SIS). A key limitation noted was that SIS was not possible in 4 patients, leaving analyzed data for 60 participants. Relevance to endometriosis: the paper assesses adenomyosis among uterine causes of abnormal bleeding using SIS versus TVS, though endometriosis itself is not discussed as a distinct condition.

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Abstract

Background: Abnormal vaginal bleeding may be caused by an extensive spectrum of disorders, both gynecologic and non-gynecologic. Diagnostic accuracy of abnormal uterine bleeding is important for the management. Trans vaginal sonography (TVS) is one of the commonest investigation used for the diagnosis, but the diagnosis is not always accurate for all clinical conditions. Saline instillation sonography (SIS) has been shown to improve the diagnosis. Authors aimed to compare the TVS and SIS diagnosis with the final histopathological diagnosis.Methods: Seventy-five patients with the complained of abnormal uterine bleeding attending outpatient department of a tertiary care institute were enrolled for the study. Trans vaginal sonography (TVS) and saline instillation sonography (SIS) was done on outpatient basis. The diagnosis was compared with final histopathological diagnosis, in term of diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value.Results: Seventy-five patients who were enrolled for the study. Sixty-four patients underwent surgery and final histopathological diagnosis was established. Four patients SIS was not possible, data was analysed for sixty patients.Conclusions: In SIS abnormal uterus diagnosis confidence was significantly improved (p value 0.001) when compared to TVS. The diagnosis of submucous myoma significantly improved (p=0.015) by SIS when compared to TVS. There was no significant difference between TVS and SIS diagnosis of Myoma remote from the endometrium (p=0.522), Adenomyosis (p=1), Focal endometrial abnormality (p=0.654) and Diffuse endometrial abnormality (p=1). The SIS sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were either improved or same, when compare to TVS for all the diagnosis except for the diagnosis of focal endometrial abnormality.
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Background

Abnormal vaginal bleeding may be caused by an extensive spectrum of disorders, both gynecologic and non-gynecologic. Diagnostic accuracy of abnormal uterine bleeding is important for the management. Trans vaginal sonography (TVS) is one of the commonest investigation used for the diagnosis, but the diagnosis is not always accurate for all clinical conditions. Saline instillation sonography (SIS) has been shown to improve the diagnosis. Authors aimed to compare the TVS and SIS diagnosis with the final histopathological diagnosis.

Methods

Seventy-five patients with the complained of abnormal uterine bleeding attending outpatient department of a tertiary care institute were enrolled for the study. Trans vaginal sonography (TVS) and saline instillation sonography (SIS) was done on outpatient basis. The diagnosis was compared with final histopathological diagnosis, in term of diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value.

Results

Seventy-five patients who were enrolled for the study. Sixty-four patients underwent surgery and final histopathological diagnosis was established. Four patients SIS was not possible, data was analysed for sixty patients.

Conclusions

In SIS abnormal uterus diagnosis confidence was significantly improved (p value 0.001) when compared to TVS. The diagnosis of submucous myoma significantly improved (p=0.015) by SIS when compared to TVS. There was no significant difference between TVS and SIS diagnosis of Myoma remote from the endometrium (p=0.522), Adenomyosis (p=1), Focal endometrial abnormality (p=0.654) and Diffuse endometrial abnormality (p=1). The SIS sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were either improved or same, when compare to TVS for all the diagnosis except for the diagnosis of focal endometrial abnormality. Metrics

References

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