Controlled analysis of factors associated with insufficient sample on outpatient endometrial biopsy

Rate and risk factors of inadequate endometrial tissues after endometrial sampling among Bhutanese women at the national referral hospital of Bhutan: a cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Women presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding needs careful and thorough assessment including ultrasound examination of endometrium and histopathological assessment of the endometrial tissues. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the rate and the factors associated with inadequate endometrial tissues after endometrial sampling using MedGyn® pipette among Bhutanese women at the colposcopy clinic, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH), Bhutan.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted at the colposcopy clinic, JDWNRH, Thimphu between October, 2021 and March, 2022. Women included in this study underwent endometrial sampling using MedGyn® pipette without anesthesia as an office procedure. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and results extracted into a structured pro forma. The histopathology reports were extracted from the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, JDWNRH using the unique Bhutanese citizenship identity card number of the study participants.

RESULTS

Inadequate endometrial tissues were noted in 27% (33 out of 122 cases). Among 89 patients with an adequate endometrial tissue, histologic results were normal in 30 (33.7%), benign pathology in 22 (24.7%), atrophy in 10 (8.2%), and hyperplasia in 27 (30.3%). In a univariate analysis, menopausal state (OR 1.6, 95% CI 0.708-3.765), overweight and obese (OR 1.6 95% CI 0.640-3.945), unemployed (OR 1.7, 95% CI 0.674-1.140), nulliparous (OR 1.7, 95% CI 0.183-15.816), primipara (OR 5.1, 95% CI 0.635-40.905) and use of hormonal contraception (OR 2.1, 95% CI 0.449-10.049) were associated with increased risk of inadequate endometrial tissues. On multivariate regression analysis, nulliparity (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.101-12.061), overweight and obesity (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.490-3.917), use of hormonal contraceptives (OR 2.2, 95% CI 0.347-13.889), and junior surgeons (OR 1.1, 95%CI 0.463-2.443) were found to be associated with inadequate endometrial tissues. However, the above associations were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The rate of inadequate endometrial tissue following endometrial sampling using MedGyn® pipette was 27.0%. Factors associated with an increased risk of inadequate endometrial tissue after endometrial sampling were menopausal state, overweight and obese, unemployed, nulliparous, primipara and use of hormonal contraception.

Microscale endometrial sampling biopsy in detecting endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia in a population of 1551 women: a comparative study with hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy

BACKGROUND

Endometrial cancer is one of the most common malignancies of the reproductive system. Effective and cost-effective screening method for populations at high risk is not available. This study aimed to investigate specimen adequacy and the influencing factors in microscale endometrial sampling biopsy and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and medical cost of biopsy in endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia screenings in comparison with hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy.

METHODS

A total of 1551 patients at high risk for endometrial lesions who required hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy from November 2017 to August 2018 were included. Microscale endometrial sampling biopsy was performed, followed by hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy. We evaluated the specimen adequacy and influencing factors of microscale endometrial sampling. Diagnostic consistency between microscale endometrial sampling biopsy and hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy was evaluated. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of microscale endometrial sampling biopsy in screening for endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia were analyzed, and the medical costs of the two procedures were compared.

RESULTS

The specimen adequacy was 81.2%. Patient age, menopausal status, endometrial thickness, and endometrial lesion type were correlated with specimen adequacy. There was good consistency in distinguishing benign and malignant endometrial diseases between microscale endometrial sampling biopsy and hysteroscopic biopsy (kappa 0.950, 95% CI 0.925-0.975). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of microscale endometrial sampling biopsy were 91.7%, 100.0%, 100.0%, and 99.3% for endometrial cancer screening, respectively, and 82.0%, 100.0%, 100.0%, and 99.4% for atypical hyperplasia screening. The medical cost of endometrial sampling biopsy was only 22.1% of the cost of hysteroscopic biopsy.

CONCLUSIONS

Microscale endometrial sampling biopsy is a minimally invasive alternative technique for obtaining adequate endometrial specimens for histopathological examination. It has the potential to be used in detecting endometrial cancer and atypical hyperplasia with high efficiency and low cost.

Can we rely on blind endometrial curettage for complete removal of focal intrauterine lesion? A prospective clinical study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the diagnostic and therapeutic efficiency of dilatation-curettage (D&C) combined with aspiration curettage for endometrial pathology compared to hysteroscopy alone in this study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 143 patients who have suspicion of endometrial mass like lesion, increased endometrial thickness (>5-mm at menopause and/or endometrial thickness upper than 5-mm in patients under tamoxifen treatment due to breast cancer during 2-D transvaginal ultrasonography examination) were enrolled. All patients underwent procedures in order of hysteroscopy, D&C plus aspiration and second look hysteroscopy. Data for age, menopausal status, tamoxifen treatment, endometrial histology, hysteroscopy and D&C findings were recorded and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

Initial hysteroscopy revealed focally growing endometrial lesion in 96 patients. Second look hysteroscopy showed persistent focal lesion in 77 patients (80 %) after D&C plus aspiration. Endometrial blind curettage failed to diagnose 42 % (25/60) of endometrial polyps, none of submucous myomas as well as 27 % (3/11) of premalignant and malignant endometrial lesions. The sensitivity, specificity, overall accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of hysteroscopy were found as 84.1 %, 83.3 %, 83.9 %, 93.8 %, and 63.8 %, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Hysteroscopy showed significant superiority in the diagnosis and definitive treatment of endometrial pathologies specifically in focally growing endometrial lesions compared to D&C plus aspiration.

ACOG Committee Opinion No. 734: The Role of Transvaginal Ultrasonography in Evaluating the Endometrium of Women With Postmenopausal Bleeding

Cancer of the endometrium is the most common type of gynecologic cancer in the United States. Vaginal bleeding is the presenting sign in more than 90% of postmenopausal women with endometrial carcinoma. Clinical risk factors for endometrial cancer, including but not limited to age, obesity, use of unopposed estrogen, specific medical comorbidities (eg, polycystic ovary syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, atypical glandular cells on screening cervical cytology), and family history of gynecologic malignancy also should be considered when evaluating postmenopausal bleeding. The clinical approach to postmenopausal bleeding requires prompt and efficient evaluation to exclude or diagnose endometrial carcinoma and endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia. Transvaginal ultrasonography usually is sufficient for an initial evaluation of postmenopausal bleeding if the ultrasound images reveal a thin endometrial echo (less than or equal to 4 mm), given that an endometrial thickness of 4 mm or less has a greater than 99% negative predictive value for endometrial cancer. Transvaginal ultrasonography is a reasonable alternative to endometrial sampling as a first approach in evaluating a postmenopausal woman with an initial episode of bleeding. If blind sampling does not reveal endometrial hyperplasia or malignancy, further testing, such as hysteroscopy with dilation and curettage, is warranted in the evaluation of women with persistent or recurrent bleeding. An endometrial measurement greater than 4 mm that is incidentally discovered in a postmenopausal patient without bleeding need not routinely trigger evaluation, although an individualized assessment based on patient characteristics and risk factors is appropriate. Transvaginal ultrasonography is not an appropriate screening tool for endometrial cancer in postmenopausal women without bleeding.

Insufficient and Scant Endometrial Samples: Determining Clinicopathologic Outcomes and Consistency in Reporting

There are no widely accepted pathologic criteria for reporting endometrial samples with limited tissue and no consensus on the clinical follow-up of patients with these samples. Our study compares clinicopathologic outcomes and determines reporting consistency for these samples. This was done in 3 parts: (1) retrospective chart review of all patients with reported insufficient or scant endometrial samples from 2010 to 2013 at our center to determine repeat sampling and final pathologic diagnosis; (2) survey of gynecologists about their practice for managing patients with these samples; (3) blind review of 99 cases of previously reported scant or insufficient samples in which 4 reviewers separately reassigned cases as scant, insufficient, or diagnostic. Agreement was determined across reviewers. For part (1): 1149 patients had insufficient (49%) or scant (51%) samples with no significant difference in repeat biopsy rate (33% vs. 31%; P=0.33). Final diagnosis of uterine malignancy was higher in patients with a previous insufficient sample than with scant (19% and 9%, respectively), but this was not statistically significant. For part (2): among gynecologists surveyed, 4 of 5 reported managing patients with insufficient or scant samples similarly. For part (3): complete consensus across raters occurred in 57% of cases (Fleiss κ, 0.4891). Similar repeat biopsy rates between scant and insufficient samples suggest that our clinicians choose similar management for both terminologies. As such, distinction between insufficient and scant samples may not be necessary in pathologic reporting. Given the malignancy outcomes, both groups merit repeat sampling in the appropriate context.

Pipelle biopsy and dilatation and curettage in clinical practice: are factors affecting their effectiveness the same?

AIM

Endometrial biopsy is one of the most commonly performed gynecological procedures. Apart from patient safety, the most important is to obtain an adequate specimen allowing histopathological diagnosis. The aim of the study was to determine the rate of endometrial sampling failure and factors affecting the quality of specimen obtained for histopathological examination among patients who underwent Pipelle biopsy and dilatation and curettage (D&C).

METHODS

Patients who underwent endometrial biopsy (Pipelle, D&C) at the 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw, between June 2013 and July 2017, were included in the study. The influence of menopausal status, body mass index, obstetric history, endometrial thickness, indications for the biopsy and doctors' experience were analyzed with regard to the effectiveness of the procedure.

RESULTS

Overall, 895 endometrial sampling procedures were performed. Three hundred and thirty-nine (37.9%) patients underwent Pipelle biopsy, while 556 (62.1%) had D&C. Insufficient samples were found in 60 (17.3%) and 88 (15.8%) patients, respectively. Age, menopausal status and indications were factors affecting both procedures, while the number of previous vaginal deliveries, body mass index and endometrial thickness influenced the effectiveness of Pipelle biopsy. Doctors' experience did not influence the specimen adequacy.

CONCLUSION

None of the methods guarantee obtaining adequate specimens. D&C might be preferred in postmenopausal women. The effectiveness of both procedures is independent of doctors' experience.

Incidence and risk factors for insufficient endometrial tissue from endometrial sampling

Objective

To assess the incidence of and factors that predict insufficient tissue after endometrial sampling.

Methods

This study reviewed the records of women undergoing endometrial sampling at Khon Kaen University’s Srinagarind Hospital between June 2014 and June 2015. It excluded cases in which the device could not be inserted into the uterine cavity due to pain intolerance or equipment failure. The criterion for diagnosing insufficient endometrial tissue was a lack of any intact tissue fragments containing both glands and stroma.

Results

Medical records of 233 women were reviewed. Insufficient tissue following endometrial sampling was noted in 67 cases (28.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI]=23.0–35.0). Histologic results in the remaining 166 women included normal pathological endometrium (121, 51.9%), endometrial polyps (7, 3.0%) endometrial hyperplasia (27, 11.6%), and endometrial cancer (11, 4.7%). According to multivariable analysis, menopausal status (odds ratio [OR] =3.60, 95% CI=1.84–7.05) and endometrial thickness of less than 8 mm (OR=3.91, 95% CI=1.49–10.21) were significant independent predictors for insufficient endometrial tissue after endometrial sampling.

Conclusion

The incidence of insufficient tissue following endometrial sampling was 28.8%. Significant independent factors associated with an increased risk of insufficient tissue were menopausal status and endometrial thickness of less than 8 mm.

Patient and provider factors associated with endometrial Pipelle sampling failure

OBJECTIVE

To explore risk factors associated with sampling failure in women who underwent Pipelle biopsy.

METHODS

A consecutive sample of 201 patient records was selected from women who underwent Pipelle biopsy procedures for suspected uterine pathology in a large healthcare system over a 6-month period (January 2013 through June 2013). Personal and medical data including age, BMI, gravidity and parity, and previous history of Pipelle biopsy were abstracted from medical records for each patient. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine factors associated with biopsy sampling failure.

RESULTS

Pipelle biopsy sampling failed in 46 out 201 women (22.89%), where 8 (17.39%) were due to inability to access the endometrium, 37 (80.43%) were inadequate samples, and 1 (2.18%) was due to unknown reasons. Personal and medical factors found to be related to sampling failure included: postmenopausal bleeding as biopsy indication (OR 7.41, 95% CI 2.27-24.14); history of prior biopsy failure (OR 23.87, 95% CI 3.76-151.61); and provider type (physician vs. midlevel provider) (OR 9.152, 95% CI 2.49-33.69).

CONCLUSION

We identified several risk factors for biopsy failure that suggest the need for particular care with Pipelle sampling procedures among women with certain characteristics, including postmenopausal bleeding and a history of prior failed Pipelle biopsy. Our finding of a significantly higher risk of sampling failure based on personal and clinical data suggests that providers must take into account additional considerations to improve sampling success.

Clinical outcomes of patients with insufficient sample from endometrial biopsy or curettage

Endometrial biopsy and curettage are widely used uterine sampling procedures. Occasionally, the amount of tissue obtained is so minimal that diagnosis cannot be reached. In published studies, insufficient samples comprise 2% to 60% of endometrial samples and are influenced by multiple contributory factors. To date, specific quantitative criteria for an adequate endometrial sample have not been established in the pathology community. The decision to classify a sample as nondiagnostic is subject to great interobserver variability, especially where elderly patients are concerned. Meanwhile, whether or not to repeat the procedure is the dilemma for clinical management. Herein we studied the clinicopathologic features of 1120 endometrial samples designated as insufficient for diagnosis. Such samples were more commonly encountered in elderly patients than younger ones (14.6% vs. 5.8%). Our pathologists generally required one intact tissue fragment containing both glands and stroma for premenopausal patients and 5 to 10 strips of atrophic endometrial epithelium for postmenopausal patients. By the 12-mo follow-up, 38% of patients with nondiagnostic samples had second sampling procedures and 7% underwent hysterectomy. The second sample was adequate in 75% of patients, 10% of which showed malignant tumor. If any worrisome histologic findings were present in the initial nondiagnostic sample, a high percentage of these patients were found to have uterine malignancy on second procedures (43%). Aims of this study are to bring awareness to this commonly overlooked topic, to validate our diagnostic criteria, and to outline important clinical implications.

Endometrial biopsy in women with abnormal uterine bleeding: inadequate and unassessable categorisation is not clinically relevant

AIMS

Inadequate endometrial biopsy comprises a dilemma for gynaecologists and histopathologists alike. This study was conducted to assess the clinical merit of classifying scant endometrial biopsy into inadequate and unassessable using McCluggage criteria.

METHODS

We retrospectively classified 268 endometrial biopsies, initially reported as inadequate, into inadequate (n=74) and unassessable (n=174) using McCluggage criteria after excluding 20 cases; all taken from patients aged ≥50 years with abnormal uterine bleeding attending Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals, UK from 1 January 2007 until 30 September 2012. The electronic clinical records were reviewed to find out the consequent clinical decisions and final outcomes. The follow-up period was 15 months after including the last patient.

RESULTS

The median age was 57 years (range: 50-97), and the median number of visits to hospital till the diagnosis was achieved was 2 (range: 1-4). The final diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia or cancer was reported in 9 cases; 5 (7.1%) with an initial finding of inadequate and 4 with unassessable (2.4%); the difference was statistically insignificant (p=0.13). More patients in the inadequate category (82.4%) underwent further investigations when compared with the unassessable category (68.4%); the difference was statistically significant (p=0.029). There was no statistically significant difference in the inadequate to unassessable ratio when the endometrial thickness was ≥5 mm or <5 mm within the Pipelle group (p=0.46) or the curettage group (p=0.34).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that categorising scant endometrial specimens into inadequate or unassessable has no clinical implications. The gynaecologist should interpret the histopathology report in the light of clinical scenario.

Factors affecting adequacy of Pipelle and Tao Brush endometrial sampling

OBJECTIVE

To compare factors influencing adequacy of endometrial samples obtained using two outpatient sampling devices--Pipelle and Tao Brush.

DESIGN

Pragmatic unblinded trial with investigation schedule randomised separately within two groups according to endometrial cancer risk.

SETTING

Gynaecology outpatient clinic of a large city hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland.

POPULATION

All women referred to a gynaecology outpatient clinic during a 28-month period complaining of abnormal vaginal bleeding.

METHODS

Women were assigned to two 'risk groups' for endometrial cancer ('high risk' for postmenopausal women and 'moderate risk' for premenopausal women aged over 40 years or with other risk factors). Women in each risk group had both types of biopsy and were randomised to two outpatient visualisations: hysteroscopy and/or transvaginal ultrasound scan.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Completion of the investigation, adequacy of sample and acceptability of investigation to women.

RESULTS

In 200 high-risk women, adequate samples were significantly more likely to be obtained by Tao Brush than Pipelle (P < 0.001). Nulliparity was strongly associated with failed insertion for both devices (P < 0.001). Inadequate samples were strongly associated with postmenopausal status only for Pipelle (P < 0.001), and among premenopausal women, for both samplers, with nulliparity (P < 0.001). A significantly greater proportion of women preferred the Tao Brush to the Pipelle endometrial sampler (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

In postmenopausal women, Tao Brush sampling offers advantages over use of Pipelle, and the former should be considered as an alternative or additional sampling device in this group of women.

Liquid-based endometrial cytology: cyto-histological correlation in a population of 917 women

OBJECTIVE

Liquid-based cytology, because of its capacity to reduce the obscuring factors and to provide thin-layer specimens, represents an opportunity to reevaluate endometrial cytology. In order to assess the utility of the liquid-based method in endometrial diagnosis, we evaluated its accuracy in comparison with histology.

METHODS

Nine hundred and seventeen women scheduled for hysteroscopy were enrolled in the study. After providing informed consent, all the women proceeded sequentially to hysteroscopy, endometrial cytology and then biopsy endometrial sampling.

RESULTS

Cyto-histological correlations were possible in 519 cases (57%): in 361 (39%) cases the biopsy was inadequate, in 15 (2%) the cytology was inadequate, and in 22 (2%) both were inadequate. At biopsy 25 (3%) women had adenocarcinoma, 5 (1%) had adenomatous atypical hyperplasia and 21 (2%) had simple non atypical hyperplasia. At cytology two adenocarcinomas and one adenomatous atypical hyperplasia were underrated as atypical hyperplasias and as non-atypical hyperplasia; two simple non-atypical hyperplasias were reported as negative; and eight cases were false positive (non-atypical hyperplasia at cytology, negative at biopsy). In our population, the cytology provided sufficient material more often than biopsy (P < 0.04). Sensitivity was estimated at 96%, specificity at 98%, positive predictive value at 86% and negative predictive value at 99%.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that endometrial cytology may be an efficient diagnostic method. It could be applied to selected patients solely or in association with ultrasonography. The combination of these two noninvasive procedures may improve their diagnostic accuracy and reduce unnecessary hysteroscopies, thereby producing benefits for women and society.

Ambulatory hysteroscopy: evidence-based guide to diagnosis and therapy

Healthcare providers are facing increasing demands for improvement in quality of life for patients. Improvements in service provision for women are being ensured by the introduction of minimally invasive technologies into all spheres of gynaecologic practice. Ambulatory hysteroscopy (direct endoscopic visualization of the endometrial cavity) is an extremely exciting and rapidly advancing field of gynaecologic practice. It advanced dramatically during the 1990s, shifting the focus in healthcare away from inpatient diagnosis and treatment. Hysteroscopy is used extensively in the evaluation of common gynaecological problems that were previously evaluated with blind and inaccurate techniques (e.g. premenopausal menstrual disorders, infertility and postmenopausal bleeding). It allows direct visualization of the uterine cavity and the opportunity for targeted biopsy, safe removal of endometrial polyps, and treatment of submucous fibroids, septa and adhesions. Ambulatory hysteroscopy is safe, with a low incidence of serious complications; it has a small failure rate. There is a general consensus that hysteroscopy is the current gold standard for evaluating intrauterine pathology, including submucous myomas, polyps, hyperplasia and cancer. Hysteroscopy in the ambulatory setting appears to have an accuracy and patient acceptability equivalent to inpatient hysteroscopy under general anaesthetic. The primary goal of this chapter is to provide a high-quality, evidence-based text on ambulatory diagnostic and operative hysteroscopy. The chapter includes in-depth analysis of the indications for outpatient hysteroscopy, its contraindications, the accuracy of diagnostic hysteroscopy, relevant risk management issues and, training and teaching.

My approach to the interpretation of endometrial biopsies and curettings

A major proportion of the workload in many histopathology laboratories is accounted for by endometrial biopsies, either curettage specimens or outpatient biopsy specimens. The increasing use of pipelle and other methods of biopsy not necessitating general anaesthesia has resulted in greater numbers of specimens with scant tissue, resulting in problems in assessing adequacy and in interpreting artefactual changes, some of which appear more common with outpatient biopsies. In this review, the criteria for adequacy and common artefacts in endometrial biopsies, as well as the interpretation of endometrial biopsies in general, are discussed, concentrating on areas that cause problems for pathologists. An adequate clinical history, including knowledge of the age, menstrual history and menopausal status, and information on the use of exogenous hormones and tamoxifen, is necessary for the pathologist to critically evaluate endometrial biopsies. Topics such as endometritis, endometrial polyps, changes that are induced by hormones and tamoxifen within the endometrium, endometrial metaplasias and hyperplasias, atypical polypoid adenomyoma, adenofibroma, adenosarcoma, histological types of endometrial carcinoma and grading of endometrial carcinomas are discussed with regard to endometrial biopsy specimens rather than hysterectomy specimens. The value of ancillary techniques, especially immunohistochemistry, is discussed where appropriate.

Results of a questionnaire regarding criteria for adequacy of endometrial biopsies

AIMS

Pathologists are faced with increasing numbers of endometrial biopsies containing scant tissue. Anecdotal evidence points to significant variation among pathologists regarding criteria used to assess adequacy, and no standard recommendations exist. An initial audit showing variation in endometrial biopsy adequacy reporting prompted this assessment of the criteria used by specialist gynaecological pathologists for the classification of adequacy.

METHODS

A questionnaire regarding criteria used for endometrial biopsy assessment adequacy was sent to members of the British Association of Gynaecological Pathologists and the National Gynaecological Pathology External Quality Assessment Scheme (UK). One hundred and thirty questionnaires were distributed and 61 pathologists responded.

RESULTS

The responses showed great variation in criteria used to classify endometrial biopsies as adequate. Most respondents felt it would be useful if criteria were proposed to aid this assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

Wide variation exists among specialist gynaecological pathologists regarding what constitutes an adequate endometrial biopsy. The gynaecologist should interpret the biopsy report in the light of clinical, radiological, and hysteroscopic features. The presence of scanty tissue in postmenopausal women with a thin endometrium and no focal lesion is expected, and is not a reason for repeat biopsy. Pathologists should exercise caution before classifying endometrial biopsies as inadequate, because this may have medicolegal and management implications.

Office hysteroscopy

The indications for hysteroscopic procedures in gynecologic practice are ample and clearly charted: hysteroscopy is considered the gold standard not only for visualizing the cervical canal and the uterine cavity, but also for treating many different kinds of benign pathologies localized to that region. This article summarizes the authors' experience with this technique during the last 14 years, which have been devoted to improving the procedure by creating new instruments and modifying the technique.

What does 'diagnostic hysteroscopy' mean today? The role of the new techniques

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Visual examination of the uterine cavity and contextual operative facilities have provided the gynecologist with the perfect 'diagnostic' tool, making it possible to examine the cavity and biopsy suspected areas under direct visualization.

RECENT FINDINGS

The approach used to insert the scope, together with the diameter of the hysteroscope and the distention of the uterine cavity, are of extreme importance in reducing patient discomfort to a minimum during an outpatient examination. The vaginoscopic approach (without speculum or tenaculum) has definitively eliminated patient discomfort related to the traditional approach to the uterus. One of the major problems for endoscopists is passing through the internal cervical os; the new generation of hysteroscopes, with an oval profile and a total diameter between 4 and 5 mm, are strictly correlated to the anatomy of the cervical canal. Miniaturized instruments have enabled the physician not only to perform targeted hysteroscopic biopsies, but also to treat benign intrauterine pathologies, such as polyps and sinechiae, without any premedication or anesthesia. This has been defined as a 'see & treat' procedure: there is no longer a distinction between the diagnostic and operative procedures, but a single procedure in which the operative part is perfectly integrated in the diagnostic work-up.

SUMMARY

Diagnostic hysteroscopy has long paid the price of being a purely visual method of investigation. Today, thanks to recent advances in instrumentation and to modified techniques related to the simultaneous use of the scope and of instruments, hysteroscopy is finally achieving the full accuracy that has been awaited for the last 20 years.

Endometrial biopsies using small-diameter hysteroscopes and 5F instruments: how can we obtain enough material for a correct histologic diagnosis?

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the quantity of biopsy tissue obtained by hysteroscopic grasp technique compared with classic punch technique.

DESIGN

Observational study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

SETTING

University hospital.

PATIENTS

One thousand two hundred seventy-six women.

INTERVENTION

Targeted biopsies performed in an office setting using two biopsy forceps, classic spoon and crocodile, and two methods, classic punch and grasp technique.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

With either biopsy forceps, the mean increase in amount of tissue obtained by grasp technique compared with punch technique was statistically significant (p <0.005). With grasp technique, the mean amount of tissue obtained was even larger with crocodile than with spoon forceps.

CONCLUSION

Targeted biopsy, when performed with the appropriate instrument and applying correct technique, can provide the pathologist with a large amount of tissue (mean 5.7 mm2) that is invariably adequate for histologic examination.

Accuracy of outpatient endometrial biopsy in the diagnosis of endometrial cancer: a systematic quantitative review

OBJECTIVE

To determine the accuracy of outpatient endometrial biopsy in diagnosing endometrial cancer in women with abnormal uterine bleeding.

DESIGN

A systematic quantitative review of published research.

METHODS

Studies were selected if accuracy of outpatient endometrial biopsy was estimated compared with a reference standard. Diagnostic accuracy was determined by pooled likelihood ratios for positive and negative test results. There were 1013 subjects in 13 diagnostic evaluations reported in 11 primary studies.

RESULTS

A positive test result on outpatient biopsy diagnosed endometrial cancer with a pooled likelihood ratio of 66.48 (95% CI 30.04-147.13) while a negative test result had a pooled likelihood ratio of 0.14 (95% CI 0.08-0.27). The post test probability of endometrial cancer was 81.7% (95% CI 59.7%-92.9%) for a positive test and 0.9% (95% CI 0.4%-2.4%) for a negative test.

CONCLUSION

Outpatient endometrial biopsy has a high overall accuracy in diagnosing endometrial cancer when an adequate specimen is obtained. A positive test result is more accurate for ruling in disease than a negative test result is for ruling it out. Therefore, in cases of abnormal uterine bleeding where symptoms persist despite negative biopsy, further evaluation will be warranted.

Accuracy of outpatient endometrial biopsy in the diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia

BACKGROUND

To determine the accuracy of outpatient endometrial biopsy in diagnosing endometrial hyperplasia in women with abnormal uterine bleeding.

DESIGN

Systematic quantitative review of published medical literature.

DATA SOURCES

Relevant papers were identified through electronic scanning of MEDLINE (1980-1999) and EMBASE (1980-1999), manual searching of bibliography of known primary and review articles and contact with manufacturers.

REVIEW METHODS

Studies were selected if accuracy of outpatient endometrial biopsy, in women with abnormal pre or postmenopausal uterine bleeding, was estimated compared to a reference standard, which was endometrial histology obtained by tissue sampling under anesthesia. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed in duplicate. Diagnostic accuracy was determined by pooled likelihood ratios (LR) for positive and negative test results for endometrial hyperplasia.

RESULTS

There were 881 subjects in 8 diagnostic evaluations reported in 6 primary studies. Postmenopausal women represented 25% of the participants studied. There were 43 patients in whom outpatient sampling was inadequate. A positive test result on outpatient biopsy diagnosed endometrial hyperplasia with a pooled LR of 12.0 (95% CI 7.8-18.6) while a negative test result had a pooled LR of 0.2 (95% CI 0.1-0.3). With a positive test result, the posttest probability of endometrial hyperplasia was 57.7% (95% CI 41.1%-72.7%) while it was 2.2% (95% CI 0.9%-4.1%) with a negative test.

CONCLUSION

Outpatient endometrial biopsy has modest accuracy in diagnosing endometrial hyperplasia. Therefore, additional endometrial assessment should be undertaken, especially if symptoms persist or intrauterine structural abnormalities are suspected.