title: To ECC or not to ECC: the question remains.
abstract: The usefulness of endocervical curettage (ECC) in evaluating women who have abnormal cervical cytology and histopathology has been debated for years; data regarding performance of ECC in the diagnostic evaluations of squamous and glandular lesions are mixed. There are no well-done randomized trials or systematic reviews regarding the usefulness of ECC. The yield on ECC increases in the setting of unsatisfactory colposcopy; in this situation, there seems less controversy regarding performance of an ECC. Reproducibility of ECC-rendered diagnosis is a concern. Data are needed to further define the role of ECC in evaluating women who have cervical disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Naval Medical Center, 8900 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
authors.forename: Rita W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Driggers
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Zahn
mesh_terms: D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D003127:Colposcopy / Q000379:methods; D003475:Curettage / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology