VABRA ASPIRATOR AND PIPELLE ENDOMETRIAL SUCTION CURETTE - A COMPARISON

OBJECTIVE: To compare the Pipelle suction curette with the Vabra aspir ating catheter in terms of their ability to obtain a sufficient amount of tissue (greater than or equal to 1 mm(2) of endometrium) in order to make a histologic diagnosis. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, randomize d, double-blind, crossover study at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center , which serves as the clinical staff of the Dartmouth Medical School. RESULTS: Agreement between the Pipelle and Vabra was high: 74 of 79 (9 3.7%) samples. The Pipelle obtained adequate samples in 78 of 79 (98.7 %) cases as compared with 75 of 79 (94.9%) for the Vabra. The McNemar test comparing these two proportions, adjusting for the fact that the Pipelle and Vabra readings were taken on the same subjects at the same visits, yielded a nonsignificant result (P = .180). CONCLUSION: The P ipelle and Vabra have equal diagnostic accuracy.