Endometrial biopsy by means of the hysteroscopic resectoscope for the evaluation of tumor differentiation in endometrial cancer: A pilot study

Aims: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of endometrial biopsy by means of the hysteroscopic resectoscope (EBHR) in evaluating tumor differentiation in patients with endometrial cancer. Methods: Between January and December 2005, all the women with a diagnosis of endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus, when admitted to hospital, were enrolled for this study. Patients eligible for surgical treatment underwent a preoperative work-up consisting in pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and EBHR. In all patients submitted to a hysterectomy, a comparison between pre- and postoperative tumor grade was carried out. Results: 42 women were enrolled in the study. Hysteroscopic biopsy was carried out in 39 patients (mean age 62,5 years, range 33-79; FIGO stage 1: 34, stage II-IV: 5). No complication related to hysteroscopy was observed. The preoperative tumor grade by hysteroscopy correlated with the final grade in 97, 1% of cases. No patient had positive peritoneal washing and after a median follow-up of ten months no intraperitoneal tumor relapse was observed. Conclusion: EBHR is a very accurate diagnostic procedure for assessing the preoperative tumor grade in patients with endometrial cancer. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.