ACCURACY OF PIPELLE ENDOMETRIAL SAMPLING IN ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMA

In this prospective study, we compared the histological results of Pipelle endometrial sampling (PES) with that of hysterectomy to examine whether endometrial sampling with the Pipelle device can accurately diagnose endometrial carcinoma. PES was performed in 26 patients with known endometrial carcinoma whose initial therapy consisted of hysterectomy. Discomfort and pain during the biopsy were reported to be mild by 22 patients, moderate by 3 patients and severe by only 1 patient. All of the samples were found to be adequate. Twenty-four of 26 PES confirmed endometrial carcinoma, a correlation of 95%, and the histological grade reported on PES agreed with that of hysterectomy specimens in 87.5% of the patients. On the other hand, the tumor grade in the specimens obtained at dilation and curettage correlated with hysterectomy specimens in 95% of the patients. We conclude that Pipelle is an accurate device in patients with endometrial carcinoma.