Causes of misdiagnosis of endometrial polyps by transvaginal ultrasonography
LI Ying
LI Chaoyu
WEN Lijun
ZHANG Yuqi
YAO Maobi
Abstract：Objective To investigate the imaging characteristics of endometrial polyps on transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound,and to summarize the causes of misdiagnosis and preventive measures.Methods The clinical data of 3 patients with endometrial polyps misdiagnosed by transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound from January 2021 to January 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.Results Among the 3 patients,1 patient visited the hospital due to increased menstrual volume and prolonged menstrual period for 6 months.The initial transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound examination showed a hypoechoic mass in the uterine cavity,which was misdiagnosed as submucosal uterine fibroid.One patient presented with infertility in childbearing age for 2 years and irregular menstrual cycle.The initial transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound examination showed a moderately echogenic mass in the uterine cavity with a small amount of blood flow signals,which was misdiagnosed as submucosal uterine fibroid.One patient presented with postmenopausal irregular vaginal bleeding and mild lower abdominal pain for 3 months.The initial transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound examination showed a hypoechoic mass in the uterine cavity with unclear boundaries,which was misdiagnosed as early endometrial cancer.Hysteroscopy showed that the lesions in the uterine cavity were polypoid lesions in 3 patients,and the pathological results suggested endometrial polyps;therefore,the diagnosis was revised as endometrial polyps.The misdiagnosis lasted 1 to 3 months.Hysteroscopic polypectomy was performed after diagnosis,and the pathological results were benign.No recurrence occurred during the 3-month follow-up,and the prognosis was good.Conclusion Endometrial polyps lack typical clinical manifestations.Although transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound is commonly used as a preliminary screening method,its specificity is limited,which is more likely to lead to misdiagnosis.Clinicians need to strengthen the comprehensive evaluation of the clinical manifestations of patients,perform the relevant examinations,and strengthen the differential diagnosis of uterine lesions to improve the accuracy of diagnosis.
Keywords：endometrial polyptransvaginal color ultrasoundmisdiagnosissubmucosal uterine fibroidendometrial carcinomahysteroscopypathological examination
Publication Date：2025-12-28
Online Publishing Date：2026-01-16(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：8( 7-14 )