Myometrial biopsy in the diagnosis of adenomyosis uteri.
OBJECTIVE
Automatic cutting needle sampling was used for diagnosis of adenomyosis uteri. The purpose of this study was the establishment of myometrial biopsy as a clinically applicable method.


METHODS
Sensitivity and specificity of myometrial biopsy in diagnosis of uterine adenomyosis was estimated by examining 680 biopsy specimens from 68 surgically removed uteri. In 34 patients with clinical symptoms of adenomyosis uteri 70 myometrial biopsies were performed during laparoscopy, and vaginal ultrasonographically guided myometrial biopsy was performed in six patients (14 specimens) without complications. Prevention of myometrial bleeding was achieved by prophylactic injection of ornipressin into the biopsy cannula.


RESULTS
The sensitivity of a single myometrial sample for diagnosing adenomyosis uteri ranged from 8% to 18.7%; specificity was 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results may encourage further investigation on the clinical use of myometrial biopsy.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Germany.
L W
LW
Popp
J P
JP
Schwiedessen
R
R
Gaetje
D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009215:Myometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D009951:Ornipressin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
D009951:Ornipressin