Can we rely on blind endometrial curettage for complete removal of focal intrauterine lesion? A prospective clinical study

J Gynecol Obstet Hum Reprod. 2020 Apr;49(4):101696. doi: 10.1016/j.jogoh.2020.101696. Epub 2020 Feb 1.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic and therapeutic efficiency of dilatation-curettage (D&C) combined with aspiration curettage for endometrial pathology compared to hysteroscopy alone in this study.

Material and methods: A total of 143 patients who have suspicion of endometrial mass like lesion, increased endometrial thickness (>5-mm at menopause and/or endometrial thickness upper than 5-mm in patients under tamoxifen treatment due to breast cancer during 2-D transvaginal ultrasonography examination) were enrolled. All patients underwent procedures in order of hysteroscopy, D&C plus aspiration and second look hysteroscopy. Data for age, menopausal status, tamoxifen treatment, endometrial histology, hysteroscopy and D&C findings were recorded and statistically analyzed.

Results: Initial hysteroscopy revealed focally growing endometrial lesion in 96 patients. Second look hysteroscopy showed persistent focal lesion in 77 patients (80 %) after D&C plus aspiration. Endometrial blind curettage failed to diagnose 42 % (25/60) of endometrial polyps, none of submucous myomas as well as 27 % (3/11) of premalignant and malignant endometrial lesions. The sensitivity, specificity, overall accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of hysteroscopy were found as 84.1 %, 83.3 %, 83.9 %, 93.8 %, and 63.8 %, respectively.

Conclusions: Hysteroscopy showed significant superiority in the diagnosis and definitive treatment of endometrial pathologies specifically in focally growing endometrial lesions compared to D&C plus aspiration.

Keywords: Dilatation & curettage; Endometrial polyp; Hysteroscopy.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Dilatation and Curettage*
  • Endometrium / pathology*
  • Endometrium / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hysteroscopy
  • Menopause
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tamoxifen / therapeutic use
  • Uterine Diseases / pathology*
  • Uterine Diseases / surgery
  • Vacuum Curettage*

Substances

  • Tamoxifen