The endometrial stripe, also known as the endometrial lining or endometrium, is a normal part of the tissue in the uterus. When you have an ultrasound or MRI, the endometrium will show up as a dark line on the screen, and this line is sometimes referred to as the "endometrial stripe". The appearance of the endometrial stripe will depend on where you are in your menstrual cycle if you are of reproductive age. During the menstrual or early proliferative phase, the endometrial stripe will look very thin, like a straight line. During the late proliferative phase, the endometrial stripe will thicken.
In post-menopausal women, the endometrial stripe is supposed to be 8 and 11 millimeters thick. A stripe more than 11 millimeters is considered thick for this post-menopausal stage, and abnormally thick stripes could be a sign of cancer. Endometrial cancer is most commonly found in post-menopausal women, and a thick endometrial stripe may be a useful preoperative marker to identify patients at higher risk for concurrent endometrial cancer.
