Case #21

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Chief Complaint

Ms. Landry is a 30-year-old Caucasian female with a three-month history of abnormal vaginal bleeding.

 

  1. What are the causes of abnormal vaginal bleeding?
  2. What additional information in HPI would you want to obtain?

Social History

HPI:  Ms. Landry complains of a three-month history of intermittent vaginal bleeding throughout her menstrual cycle that is increased during menstrual periods.  During this same period, she notes lower abdominal cramping and pain with deep pelvic thrusts during intercourse.  She admits to having occasional post-coital bleeding.  She denies any abnormal vaginal discharges, nausea, appetite changes, or breast tenderness.  She also denies increased frequency, urgency, or changes in bowel habits.  She denies weight loss, excessive exercise, or increased stress. 

Her age at menarche was 12 years and has had mostly regular menstrual cycles, approximately every fourth week, until approximately six months ago.  Her menstrual periods typically last four days but recently they have persisted for as long as two weeks.  She notes mild to moderate dysmenorrhea although not every cycle.  She has had no known pregnancies but has used various methods of contraception in the past.    

She has had two episodes of vaginal Candidiasis, the last occurring approximately four years ago.   She denied any history of gonorrhea, chlmydia, or any other sexually transmitted disease.  She states that she has had about ten sexual partners over the years, but none she would consider high risk.  Her last Pap smear was four years ago and was normal.  She has used oral contraceptives extensively in the past but has not used them for the past two years because she has not had a steady partner.  She has had two partners in the past six months. 

Past Medical History: non-contributory

Past Surgical History: none

Medications: none

Allergies: none known

Social History: single, lives alone, works as a secretary at a local law firm, smokes 1 pack of cigarettes per day for past twelve years, consumes 6-10 alcoholic drinks per week, no recreational drug use

Family History:

father, age 62, has Type II diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease

mother, age 57, had hysterectomy ten years ago due to uterine fibroids and hypothyroidism controlled on Synthroid

-brother, age 32, has asthma

  1. What questions would you ask on a review of systems?

Medical History

Review of systems:

Denied changes in her weight or appetite but stated that she is always cold. No history of increased bleeding including epistaxis or easy bruising. Denied blurry vision and galactorrhea. No history of hepatitis or blood transfusions. Some facial hair but not excessive and moderate acne that was worse during teenage years.

 

  1. What are the most likely diagnoses to consider?
  2. What would you investigate on physical exam?

Physical Exam

Vital signs 

Pulse:   90 bpm, regular, sitting; 98 bpm, regular, standing

BP: 125/78 sitting, 113/69 standing

Respirations: 16, unlabored

Temperature:  37.1 C

General: Fully oriented and alert, no acute distress, non-obese

Skin, hair, and mucous membranes: No jaundice or pallor.  No decrease in skin turgor or coarsening of skin.  No spider angiomas, palmar erythema, petechiae, or ecchymoses.  Hair is not coarse or brittle and in normal female distribution.

Thyroid gland: Normal size, mobile, and no nodularity.

Abdomen: Nondistended.  Normal bowel sounds.  Nontender.  Liver measures 10 cm in mid-clavicular line.  No splenomegaly.  No masses.

Pelvis: No purulent or bloody discharge.  Vulva, vagina, and cervix had no lesions and masses.  No tenderness to deep palpation.  Uterus retroverted , normal size, and without nodularity.  No uterine or adnexal masses.  No nodularity of uterosacral ligaments.

  1. What two diagnoses do you want to initially rule out? What would you order to do that?
  2. What are the symptoms/signs and risk factors for ectopic pregnancy?
  3. What are the symptoms/signs and risk factors for cervical cancer?
  4. What are the current guidelines for routine Pap smear screening?
  5. What tests do you want to perform?

Lab Results

  • Serum β-hCG negative

  • Pap smear normal

  • Gonorrhea and chlmydia cultures negative

  • Hemoglobin 11.2, Hematocrit 34.3

  • TSH 4.4

  1. Based on all the findings, what is your differential diagnosis and most likely diagnosis?  
  2. What is dysfunctional uterine bleeding?  
Ms. Landry has no desire to pregnancy at this point but did not want to eliminate the possibility in the future. Therefore, she was given Loestrin 1/20 and told to follow-up in three months.

 

  1. What is the theory behind using oral contraceptives to treat endometriosis?
  2. What is dysfunctional uterine bleeding?
Ms. Landry returns to clinic at her scheduled appointment three months later and reports a slight increase in her vaginal bleeding.
  1. What other treatment options exist?
Ms. Landry is started on Danazol 800 mg per day and instructed to return in another three months. She returns and reports a significant decrease in her symptoms, including bleeding. Her danazol is discontinued after one year and she remains symptom free.  

Twenty years later, a 50-year-old Ms. Landry presents to your office complaing of increased vaginal bleeding. For the past few years, her menses have been more irregular with periodic episodes of heavy bleeding.

 

  1. How does your differential diagnosis change? What do you need to rule out?
  2. What are the symptoms/signs and risk factors for endometrial cancer?
You attempt but are unable to obtain an endometrial sample in your office. You refer Ms. Landry to a gynecologist who performs a dilation and curettage that reveals normal endometrium. She is told that abnormal bleeding can be normal in the perimenopausal period. She is counseled on the benefits of hormone replacement therapy. Most perimenopausal bleeding can be controlled by hormone, either low dose BCP's or ERT. Hysterectomy, however, is usually not needed.

 

  1. If there is no evidence of endometrial cancer, what may be the source of abnormal bleeding during the perimenopausal period?
  2. What are indications and contraindications for hormone replacement therapy in peri- or post-menopausal women?

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