PIPELLE ENDOMETRIAL SAMPLING - SENSITIVITY IN THE DETECTION OF ENDOMETRIAL CANCER

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sensitivity of the Pipelle endometrial suct ion curette in the detection of endometrial carcinoma in patients with known endometrial cancer. STUDY DESIGN: A study was conducted using p atients with known endometrial cancer undergoing a hysterectomy as par t of a formal staging procedure. Endometrial biopsies were performed p rior to each surgical procedure. Biopsy results were compared to the h ysterectomy specimen for specimen adeqancy and final histologic diagno sis. RESULTS: The Pipelle biopsy was adequate for analysis in 63 of 65 patients (97%). Malignancy tons detected by biopsy in 54 of 65 patien ts, for a sensitivity of 83 +/- 5% (mean +/- SD). Of the 11 patients w ith false negative results, 5 had tumours present in only an endometri al polyp. Three of the 11 patients had disease localized to < 5% of th e surface area of the endometrium. CONCLUSION: The Pipelle endometrial suction curette is an effective office device for evaluating patients at risk of endometrial cancer; however, tumors localized to a polyp o r small area of endometrium may go undetected.