Accuracy of hysteroscopic diagnosis of endometrial polyps.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of endometrial polyps by hysteroscopy.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

One hundred and sixty five women undergoing diagnostic hysteroscopy between January 1996 and December 1998 at the Gynecologic Endoscopy Unit, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital were recruited in this study. The hysteroscopic diagnosis was compared with the histopathology by endometrial curettages performed after hysteroscopy.

RESULTS

Endometrial polyps were diagnosed by hysteroscopy in 54 patients (32.73%). When compared to tissue pathology, we found an accuracy of 81.21 per cent, sensitivity of 92.59 per cent, specificity of 78.98 per cent, positive predictive value of 46.29 per cent, negative predictive value of 98.19 per cent, false positive of 17.57 per cent and false negative of 1.21 per cent.

CONCLUSION

For endometrial polyps, diagnostic hysteroscopy yields a high accuracy but low positive predictive value. Therefore, endometrial biopsy is necessary to confirm diagnosis of endometrial polyps by hysteroscopy.