thickened endometrium

I was just diangnosed with an endometrium that is abnormally thickened to 30mm's.  Can anyone enlighten me on this and how thick is too thick.  I am waiting for an appt. with my doctor but in the mean time I am reading up on this, but the worry is creeping up on me.  If anyone has information it would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

[Keith Downing, MD]

Hello,

Are you postmenopausal?  The cut-off endometrial thickness for a postmenopausal woman is 5mm (i.e., it should be no greater than 5mm).  If this is the case you should have an endometrial biopsy to assess the possibility of malignancy and pending those results a further work up.  Endometrial polyp(s) is a benign cause of sonographic evidence of a thickened endometrium that is quite common.  

In menstruating women there is no "normal" endometrial thickness.  However what appears thick on ultrasound may be the result of a submucosal fibroid, uterine polyp, endometrial hyperplasia (overgrowth of endometrial tissue), blood clot or retained pregnancy tissue (especially after a miscarriage or D&C).  

Your physician should be able to give you more details at your appointment.

Best regards,

Dr. Downing

[helpisontheway007]

A D&C is much better to detect endometrial cancer.  with an endrometrial biopsy they just cut around 1 spot.  but, with a d&c, they scrap the uterine cavity and send it to the lab.  Just make sure your gyn is not too aggressive and scraps too aggressively because then u may have problems holding on/retaining a child and future miscarriages could become a risk.

[edemt]

A related discussion, Thickened Endometrium was started.

[nanalynn1952]

A related discussion, thickened endometrium was started.