[Accuracy and practicability of the Prevical curette for the early diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma].

.he Prevical curette is a new instrument for an early diagnosis of carcinoma of the endometrium. The good acceptance of this method, which can be practised on an outpatient basis without anaesthesia, has been described by other groups of researchers. To check its reliability, we analysed endometrium specimens of 105 patients both cytologically and histologically. The collection of the material by the cytological method was successful in 99% of the cases, whereas clinical interpretation was possible in 94%. With nine carcinomas of the endometrium in the examined women, no false negative result was obtained. Hence, the use of this curette seems to be useful in patients with special risk factors and patients who cannot be anaesthetised. It should, always be kept in mind that the Prevical curette is conceived as a screening method which cannot replace histological clarification.