title: Endopap-versus Pipelle-sampling in the diagnosis of postmenopausal endometrial disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the accuracy of Endopap- and Pipelle-sampling in the diagnosis of postmenopausal disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational study in the setting of a University Hospital. One hundred and six consecutive postmenopausal women presenting with uterine bleeding or endometrial cells on cervical cytology underwent an Endopap sampling as well as a Pipelle biopsy. Thereafter, 89 of those women underwent a hysteroscopy and curettage (n = 71) or a hysterectomy (n = 18). The diagnostic accuracy of Pipelle and Endopap was assessed against the final diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endometrial carcinoma was found in five cases (6%), benign disease in 34 (38%). The sensitivity of Endopap and Pipelle for the detection of endometrial disease was 56 and 51%, respectively, with a specificity of 94 and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity for endometrial carcinoma was 80% for Endopap and 100% for Pipelle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data tend to favor Pipelle against Endopap as diagnostic tool in endometrial disease in symptomatic postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van den Bosch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vandendael
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Wranz
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lombard
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017698:Postmenopause; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology