DETECTION OF MALIGNANCY IN ENDOMETRIUM BY BRUSH SAMPLING IN 1042 SYMPTOMATIC PATIENTS

Endometrial brush samples were taken from 1042 symptomatic hospital pa tients using Uterobrush(R), and the results were compared either to th e histology of the endometrium obtained with dilatation and curettage (n=313) or the patients' follow-up (n=729). Only one cancer (100%) amo ng patients less than or equal to 51 years of age (n=677) was found by this method. Of the 12 cancers among patients > 51 years of age (n=36 5), 11 (91.7%) were detected by Papanicolaou classes III-V. One cancer was missed, whereas no false positive results were found. The diagnos tic accuracy in this group of patients varied from 92.3% to 97.8%, dep ending on the group (true positive vs true negative) to which the Papa nicolaou class III was placed. We conclude that endometrial cytology o btained by brushing is useful for symptomatic patients of all age grou ps and gives an indication for further examination. If cytology is nor mal and bleeding continues in postmenopausal patients, curettage is in dicated.