Relationship between endometrial histology, morphometry and ultrasound texture in the follicular phase of infertile women with natural menstrual cycles.

The relationship between endometrial histology and ultrasonographic texture in the follicular phase was investigated. The endometrial sonographic texture of 32 infertile women with normal menstrual cycles was classified into three patterns (L, H and I) and histological and morphometrical analyses were performed. Endometrial specimens from pattern L, which showed multi-layered endometrium characterized by three hyperechogenic lines with inner hypo-echogenic regions, had smaller, similar-sized endometrial glands and few stromal cells. Those from pattern H which showed entirely homogeneous hyperechogenic endometrium, had larger, various-sized glands and more stromal cells. Those from pattern I which showed heterogeneous hyperechogenic and partially hypo-echogenic endometrium, had the largest, most variable-sized glands and many stromal cells. The differences in sonographic texture may be related to the histological and morphometrical findings.