IS DILATATION AND CURETTAGE OBSOLETE FOR DIAGNOSING INTRAUTERINE DISORDERS IN PREMENOPAUSAL PATIENTS WITH PERSISTENT ABNORMAL UTERINE BLEEDING

Background. To determine the predictive value of dilatation and curett age (D&C) for diagnosing intrauterine disorders in patients with persi stent abnormal uterine bleeding. Methods. An observational descriptive study was performed in a large university-affiliated teaching hospita l. The suspicion of intrauterine disorders described in theater-report s involving D&C was compared with the hysteroscopical findings in 131 premenopausal patients with persistent complaints of abnormal uterine bleeding who were referred by other gynecologists within six months af ter D&C. Pre-test probability (prevalence), post-test probabilities (p redictive values) and likelihood-ratio's were calculated. Results. The pre-teal probability for all intrauterine disorders was 0.49. The pos t-test probabilities for a 'suspect' and a 'not suspect' D&C were 0.61 and 0.46 respectively with an overlap of confidence-intervals. The co rresponding likelihood-ratio's were 1.69 and 0.87 respectively. Conclu sions. D&C findings were of no value in the prediction of the presence or absence of intrauterine disorders in this population with persiste nt complaints.