Reliability of frozen section of uterine curettings in evaluation of possible ectopic pregnancy

Study Objective. To assess the accuracy of frozen section evaluation of ute rine curettings to look for chorionic villi and rule out ectopic pregnancy before laparoscopy. Design. Retrospective review (Canadian Task Force classification 111). Setting. Northeastern medical school-affiliated teaching hospital. Patients. Thirty-six women. Intervention. Dilatation and curettage, laparoscopy, and laparotomy. Measurements and Main Results. Of 36 cases, 13 showed evidence of intrauter ine pregnancy, either chorionic villi or implantation site, on final perman ent sections. Five false negatives were identified in which no villi were i dentified on frozen section, although villi or evidence of an implantation site was noted on permanent sections (sensitivity 62%, 95% Cl 0.32, 0.86). Conclusion. Frozen section evaluation of uterine curettings can produce fal se negative diagnoses, and this should be considered in the operative plann ing of women with suspected ectopic pregnancy.