Endocervical sampling: a comparison of endocervical brush, endocervical curette, and combined brush with curette techniques.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to compare the collection of endocervical specimens by endocervical brush, curette, and a combined curette and brush technique.


METHODS
Women underwent colposcopy with endocervical curettage using one of 3 collection methods.


RESULTS
The endocervical brush produced equivalent amounts of tissue and endocervical cells compared to the curette alone or combined techniques. More squamous and glandular atypia and SIL/AIS were found when a brush was used, but a statistically significant difference was not noted. The brush alone produced a significantly greater percentage of samples that were insufficient for diagnosis and more specimens without stromal components. The brush with the curette as a combined technique provided no improvement in amounts of tissue, endocervical cells/clusters, or amount of stroma retrieved.


CONCLUSIONS
Each technique has advantages and disadvantages in terms of what types of components are collected and what diagnosis may be determined from the sample taken.
Gibson
C A
CA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (in conjunction with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England), University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05401, USA.
Trask
C E
CE
House
P
P
Smith
S F
SF
Foley
M
M
Nicholas
C
C