title: Outpatient endometrial sampling with the Pipelle curette.
abstract: This study compares outpatient endometrial sampling using the Pipelle endometrial sampling curette with conventional dilation and curettage (D&C) in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding. Endometrial sampling with the Pipelle curette was performed in 172 and D&C in 97 women. No complications were encountered with either of these procedures. One hundred and seventy (98.8%) of the Pipelle aspirations attempted were successfully completed. Sufficient material for histological assessment was obtained in 154 (90.6%) of the women who underwent Pipelle endometrial sampling and in only 66 (68%) of those who underwent D&C (p < 0.0001). In postmenopausal women, adequate specimens were obtained in 74 of 88 (84.1%) by Pipelle and in only 22 of 48 (45.8%) by D&C. In 45 cases the histologic diagnosis of the endometrium obtained by Pipelle sampling was compared with the one of endometrium obtained by D&C or hysterectomy performed shortly thereafter. The diagnosis was identical in 43 (95.5%) cases. Endometrial sampling with the Pipelle was well tolerated causing occasionally only slight discomfort.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ben-Baruch
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Seidman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schiff
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Menczer
mesh_terms: D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D003475:Curettage; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology