Objective: To assess the diagnostic inadequacy of dilatation and curettage
(D&C) by comparing histologic findings with this technique with those obtai
ned after hysterectomy.
Design: Retrospective clinical study.
Setting: University-affiliate hospital.
Patient(s): Three hundred ninety-seven patients with abnormal uterine bleed
ing who underwent D&C and, within 2 months, hysterectomy because of histolo
gic findings or persistence of symptoms.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Comparison of histologic findings on D&C with thos
e obtained after hysterectomy.
Result(s): In 248 of 397 patients (62.5%), D&C failed to detect intrauterin
e disorders subsequently found at hysterectomy; the sensitivity was 46%, th
e specificity was 100.0%, the positive predictive value was 100.0%, and the
negative predictive value was 7.1%.
Conclusion(s): Dilatation and curettage is an inadequate diagnostic and the
rapeutic tool for ail uterine disorders; this technique missed 62.5% of maj
or intrauterine disorders, and all endometrial disorders were still present
in the removed uterus. (Fertil Steril (R) 2001;75:803-5 (C) 2001 by Americ
an Society for Reproductive Medicine.)