Efficacy of frozen-section evaluation of uterine curettings in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to examine the accuracy of frozen section for the identification of products of conception on curettage of patients undergoing surgery for suspected ectopic pregnancy.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of 87 consecutive cases in which frozen-section assessment of an endometrial curettage specimen to identify products of conception was undertaken. A frozen-section diagnosis was considered correct if the final diagnosis concurred with the findings at frozen section.


RESULTS
Eighty-one of 87 (93.1%) specimens were correctly identified at frozen section. Frozen section had a sensitivity of 78.3% and a specificity of 98.4%. The positive predictive value of frozen section in this population was 94.7% and the negative predictive value was 92.6%. No significant correlation was found regarding the attending pathologist at frozen section, preoperative human chorionic gonadotropin, or time of day at frozen section.


CONCLUSIONS
Frozen section is accurate for the identification of products of conception on endometrial curettage in the evaluation of a suspected ectopic pregnancy.
Spandorfer
S D
SD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Centre, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
Menzin
A W
AW
Barnhart
K T
KT
LiVolsi
V A
VA
Pfeifer
S M
SM
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014599:Uterus / Q000473:pathology*
D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin