What is the normal thickness of the endometrium in postmenopausal woman, and what is the significance of thickened endometrium in these women?
The endometrium in postmenopausal women should appear as a thin, echogenic layer measuring less than 4 to 5 mm. Endometrial thickness greater than 5 mm with or without surface irregularity and endometrial heterogeneity in the setting of postmenopausal bleeding may be related to benign etiologies such as endometrial hyperplasia, submucosal leiomyomas (i.e., fibroids), or endometrial polyps. However, further workup should be pursued to exclude endometrial cancer, because US findings are often nonspecific.