Endometrial brush biopsy for the diagnosis of endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a new technique for processing endometrial cytology for the diagnosis and exclusion of endometrial cancer. STUDY DESIGN: All women at risk for endometrial cancer with clinical indica tions for endometrial biopsy were evaluated by endometrial brush biopsy (Ta o Brush, Cook OB-GYN, Bloomington, Indiana) and Pipelle (Cooper Surgical, S helton, Connecticut) endometrial biopsies during one office visit. Patients were followed longitudinally for the development of endometrial cancer or until undergoing dilatation and curettage or hysterectomy. All comparisons were analyzed using the chi (2) or t test. RESULTS: One hundred one women (mean age, 58; range, 35-86) had endometrial biopsies performed. Median follow-up was > 21 months (range, 3-29). Twenty -two had cancer or atypia, while the remaining had benign diagnoses. When c orrelated with the final diagnosis, the Tao Brush had 95.5% sensitivity and the Pipelle, 86% sensitivity. Both devices had 100% specificity, positive predictive value of 100% and negative predictive value of 98%. When the res ults of the two biopsy devices are considered together, the positive and ne gative predictive value for detecting or excluding endometrial cancer was 1 00%. Based on 1998 Medicare reimbursements, a simultaneous second office bi opsy using the Tao brush could save approximately $67 per case as compared to a sonohistogram and much more when compared to dilatation and curettage. CONCLUSION: Endometrial cancer can be reliably detected and excluded using these two distinct office biopsy devices simultaneously during one office v isit. In patients with an indication for endometrial biopsy, no further dia gnostic test may be necessary to exclude or diagnose endometrial cancer or atypia.