Buccoliero Anna M, Gheri Chiara F, Castiglione Francesca, Garbini Francesca, Fambrini Massimiliano, Bargelli Gianni, Barbetti Alfredo, Pappalardo Salvatore, Taddei Antonio, Boddi Vieri, Scarselli Gian F, Marchionni Mauro, Taddei Gian L
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Diagn Cytopathol. 2007 Jul;35(7):398-402. doi: 10.1002/dc.20655.
Liquid-based cytology represents an opportunity to re-evaluate endometrial cytology. We evaluated the accuracy of liquid-based endometrial cytology as compared to biopsy in 670 women scheduled for histeroscopy because of thickened endometrium (>4 mm), as evaluated by transvaginal sonography. Endometrial biopsy detected pathology in 41 (6%) of cases (21 of which were adenocarcinomas). Cytologic study found pathology in 62 (9%) cases (19 of which were adenocarcinomas). Two hundred ninety-one biopsies (43%) and 28 (4%) cytologies were inadequate. The sensitivity and the specificity were estimated, respectively, at 95% and 98%; the positive and negative predictive values were estimated, respectively, at 83% and 99%. Cytology provided sufficient material more often than biopsy (P < 0.01). We consider endometrial cytology an efficacious diagnostic opportunity. It could be usefully applied in association with transvaginal sonography. The combination of these procedures might reduce more invasive and expensive diagnostic procedures.
