Ultrasound can be used to measure something called the endometrial stripe. By doing this measurement, the doctor can assess if there is an abnormality in the endometrium. A thick endometrial stripe is not nor-mal in a post-menopausal woman, but is not always diagnostic of endometrial cancer.
For example, an endometrial polyp, which is often benign, can make the endometrial stripe look thick on ultrasound. Some-times the doctor will use saline infusion along with the ultrasound to help assess whether or not there is a polyp in the endometrial cavity.
Ultrasound is a painless test that is not as expensive as other tests such as MRI or CT scan. Usually the doc-tor will order both a transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound. For the transvaginal part of the ultrasound, the technician will ask the woman to insert the ultra-sound probe into her vagina. The transvaginal part of the study is often the most useful for evaluating the ovaries and the endometrial stripe, particularly in women who are overweight.
While it might be a little uncomfortable and is embarrassing for some women, it is not usually painful. If a saline injection into the uterus is used, for example to diagnose a polyp, there can be some cramping as the saline is injected into the endometrial cavity. Ultrasound can also be used to look at the ovaries and fallopian tubes to be sure they are normal. Rarely, endometrial cancer can spread to the tubes and ovaries.