Conservatively treated endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia/cancer: Risk of intrauterine synechiae

J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod. 2021 May;50(5):101930. doi: 10.1016/j.jogoh.2020.101930. Epub 2020 Oct 3.

Abstract

Introduction: To determine whether progestin type or number of dilation and curettage procedures (D&Cs) were associated with intrauterine synechiae (IS) or pregnancy outcomes in patients conservatively treated for endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN) or endometrial cancer (EC).

Materials and methods: We evaluated patients conservatively treated for EIN or EC from 2000 to 2017 at an academic center. IS were identified hysteroscopically. We calculated proportions for categorical variables and tested associations between D&C number, progestin, and pregnancy outcomes using Pearson chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests. A post-hoc power analysis indicated sufficient power to detect livebirth.

Results: We analyzed 54 patients, 15 with EIN (28 %) and 39 with EC (72 %), with a mean age of 34 ± 1.2 years. Progestin treatment types included megestrol acetate (MA) (n = 24), MA with levonorgestrel intrauterine device (LngIUD) (n = 10), MA followed by LngIUD (n = 3), and LngIUD alone (n = 6). Mean number of D&Cs was 3.9 ± 0.9. Overall, 53 subjects underwent hysteroscopy; 10 (19 %) had IS. When D&Cs were grouped into 0-2, 3-4 and ≥5, each increase in D&C group had a 2.9 higher odds of IS (OR: 2.91, p = 0.04, CI: 1.05-10.02). LngIUD was associated with a nonsignificant 46 % decrease in the odds of IS (OR: 0.54, p = 0.66, CI: 0.08-2.87). Twenty-two women attempted pregnancy; 14 women achieved a total of 20 pregnancies and 9 women had total of 15 livebirths (41 % livebirth rate). The number of D&Cs and progestin treatment type were not associated with pregnancy outcomes.

Discussion: Among 54 patients conservatively treated for EC/EIN, nearly 20 % developed IS. However, hysteroscopic and/or fertility treatments may improve pregnancy outcomes.

Keywords: Dilation and curettage procedure; Endometrial cancer; Endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia; Fertility preservation; Intrauterine synechiae; Levonorgestrel intrauterine device.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma in Situ / therapy*
  • Conservative Treatment / adverse effects*
  • Conservative Treatment / methods
  • Contraceptive Agents, Female
  • Dilatation and Curettage / adverse effects*
  • Dilatation and Curettage / statistics & numerical data
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Female
  • Gynatresia / epidemiology
  • Gynatresia / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Hysteroscopy / statistics & numerical data
  • Intrauterine Devices, Medicated
  • Levonorgestrel
  • Live Birth / epidemiology
  • Megestrol Acetate / adverse effects
  • Megestrol Acetate / therapeutic use
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Progestins / adverse effects*
  • Progestins / therapeutic use
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk

Substances

  • Contraceptive Agents, Female
  • Progestins
  • Levonorgestrel
  • Megestrol Acetate