Reliability of frozen section of uterine curettings in evaluation of possible ectopic pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the accuracy of frozen section evaluation of uterine curettings to look for chorionic villi and rule out ectopic pregnancy before laparoscopy.


METHODS
Retrospective review (Canadian Task Force classification III).


METHODS
Northeastern medical school-affiliated teaching hospital.


METHODS
Thirty-six women. Intervention. Dilatation and curettage, laparoscopy, and laparotomy.


RESULTS
Of 36 cases, 13 showed evidence of intrauterine pregnancy, either chorionic villi or implantation site, on final permanent sections. Five false negatives were identified in which no villi were identified on frozen section, although villi or evidence of an implantation site was noted on permanent sections (sensitivity 62%, 95% CI 0.32, 0.86).


CONCLUSIONS
Frozen section evaluation of uterine curettings can produce false negative diagnoses, and this should be considered in the operative planning of women with suspected ectopic pregnancy.
Heller
D S
DS
Department of Pathology-UH/E141, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
Hessami
S
S
Cracchiolo
B
B
Skurnick
J H
JH
D046508:Culture Techniques; D003475:Curettage; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy / Q000379:methods; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D011247:Pregnancy; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity