ACCURACY OF PIPELLE ENDOMETRIAL SAMPLING IN ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMA

In this prospective study, we compared the histological results of Pip elle endometrial sampling (PES) with that of hysterectomy to examine w hether endometrial sampling with the Pipelle device can accurately dia gnose endometrial carcinoma. PES was performed in 26 patients with kno wn endometrial carcinoma whose initial therapy consisted of hysterecto my. Discomfort and pain during the biopsy were reported to be mild by 22 patients, moderate by 3 patients and severe by only 1 patient. All of the samples were found to be adequate. Twenty-four of 26 PES confir med endometrial carcinoma, a correlation of 95%, and the histological grade reported on PES agreed with that of hysterectomy specimens in 87 .5% of the patients. On the other hand, the tumor grade in the specime ns obtained at dilation and curettage correlated with hysterectomy spe cimens in 95% of the patients. We conclude that Pipelle is an accurate device in patients with endometrial carcinoma.