Endometrial brush biopsy for the diagnosis of endometrial cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a new technique for processing endometrial cytology for the diagnosis and exclusion of endometrial cancer.


METHODS
All women at risk for endometrial cancer with clinical indications for endometrial biopsy were evaluated by endometrial brush biopsy (Tao Brush, Cook OB-GYN, Bloomington, Indiana) and Pipelle (Cooper Surgical, Shelton, Connecticut) endometrial biopsies during one office visit. Patients were followed longitudinally for the development of endometrial cancer or until undergoing dilatation and curettage or hysterectomy. All comparisons were analyzed using the chi 2 or t test.


RESULTS
One hundred one women (mean age, 58; range, 35-86) had endometrial biopsies performed. Median follow-up was > 21 months (range, 3-29). Twenty-two had cancer or atypia, while the remaining had benign diagnoses. When correlated with the final diagnosis, the Tao Brush had 95.5% sensitivity and the Pipelle, 86% sensitivity. Both devices had 100% specificity, positive predictive value of 100% and negative predictive value of 98%. When the results of the two biopsy devices are considered together, the positive and negative predictive value for detecting or excluding endometrial cancer was 100%. Based on 1998 Medicare reimbursements, a simultaneous second office biopsy using the Tao brush could save approximately $67 per case as compared to a sonohistogram and much more when compared to dilatation and curettage.


CONCLUSIONS
Endometrial cancer can be reliably detected and excluded using these two distinct office biopsy devices simultaneously during one office visit. In patients with an indication for endometrial biopsy, no further diagnostic test may be necessary to exclude or diagnose endometrial cancer or atypia.
Del Priore
G
G
Divisions of Gynecologic Oncology and Gynecologic Pathology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaplan Cancer Center, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA. gyn.oncology@med.nyu.edu
Williams
R
R
Harbatkin
C B
CB
Wan
L S
LS
Mittal
K
K
Yang
G C
GC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage / Q000191:economics; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors