Reducing unnecessary investigations in adolescent gynaecology: The utility of pelvic ultrasonography for adolescents presenting with heavy menstrual bleeding.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) in adolecents is predominantly related to an immature hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. Structural causes in this population are extremely rare; therefore, pelvic ultrasonography is not required as a first-line investigation. Anecdotally, it has been observed that pelvic ultrasounds of adolescents with HMB are normal and do not change clinical care. The aim of this study was to analyse all female patients aged ≤18 years who were referred to a tertiary paediatric hospital for HMB over a 12-month period. METHOD: Medical records were reviewed to determine if pelvic ultrasonography was ordered during the diagnostic process and whether the imaging altered management. RESULTS: No pelvic ultrasounds ordered for adolescents with HMB altered clinical management. General practitioners (GP) were the most likely to refer patients to the tertiary paediatric hospital and to order pelvic ultrasonography, likely reflecting that most female adolescents are seen by a GP within the community. DISCUSSION: Providing clinical updates and ongoing education to health professionals managing female adolescent patients is recommended.

Imperforate hymen: Retrospective review from a single tertiary centre of presenting symptoms and diagnostic process.

AIM: To review presentations, diagnostic processes and time to diagnosis of presentations of imperforate hymen at one tertiary paediatric hospital over a 10-year period. The aim was to improve knowledge, enable targeted education and reduce unnecessary tests and diagnostic delay for this congenital obstructive disorder of the female reproductive tract. METHODS: A pragmatic, retrospective, observational study was conducted of all female patients, aged younger than or equal to 18 years of age, presenting to the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, over an 18-year period. Presenting symptom(s), time to diagnosis, investigations ordered and number of health-care professionals consulted prior to diagnosis were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 27 patients met eligibility criteria, and 85% presented with pain (23/27). Pain was frequently associated with other symptoms (15/23). Over three quarters of patients consulted more than one health-care professional prior to diagnosis (22/27). Of the 27 patients, 19 had imaging undertaken prior to diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Paediatric and adolescent females managed at our tertiary paediatric hospital are experiencing diagnostic uncertainty and the unnecessary ordering of imaging prior to a diagnosis of imperforate hymen. Targeted education is recommended to health professionals managing female paediatric and adolescent patients.