title: Diagnostic inadequacy of dilatation and curettage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the diagnostic inadequacy of dilatation and curettage (D&C) by comparing histologic findings with this technique with those obtained after hysterectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-affiliated hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred ninety-seven patients with abnormal uterine bleeding who underwent D&C and, within 2 months, hysterectomy because of histologic findings or persistence of symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of histologic findings on D&C with those obtained after hysterectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 248 of 397 patients (62.5%), D&C failed to detect intrauterine disorders subsequently found at hysterectomy; the sensitivity was 46%, the specificity was 100.0%, the positive predictive value was 100.0%, and the negative predictive value was 7.1%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dilatation and curettage is an inadequate diagnostic and therapeutic tool for all uterine disorders; this technique missed 62.5% of major intrauterine disorders, and all endometrial disorders were still present in the removed uterus.
authors: Second Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. stefanoendo@tin.it
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Bettocchi
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Ceci
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Vicino
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Marello
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Impedovo
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Selvaggi
mesh_terms: D001284:Atrophy; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007044:Hysterectomy; D011127:Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery