Correspondence between hysteroscopic and histologic findings in women with chronic endometritis.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate if findings in women with chronic endometritis (CE) at fluid hysteroscopy correlate with the severity of inflammation at histology and to assess the possibility to score the severity of inflammation by fluid hysteroscopy.


METHODS
Controlled clinical study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
A total of 211 outpatient women with a hysteroscopic diagnosis of CE and 30 control women without any such signs.


METHODS
All patients underwent endometrial biopsy by means of a 3-mm Novak's curette connected to a 20-ml syringe without any anesthesia.


METHODS
Hysteroscopic records were reviewed and compared with histologic findings by using an arbitrary inflammation score (Grades 0-2, no inflammation to severe infiltration, nodules and glands disruption, respectively).


RESULTS
A significant correlation between focal hyperemia and isolated micropolyps with Grade 1 inflammation and between generalized hyperemia, presence of diffuse micropolyps and polypoid endometrium with Grade 2 inflammation was found. Hysteroscopic and histologic grading showed good agreement (kappa index = 0.62).


CONCLUSIONS
In women affected by CE the severity of histological alterations may be reliably evaluated by fluid hysteroscopy. This information may be clinically useful not only for giving a prognosis and as a basis for interpretation of patients' complaints, but also for monitoring treatment.
Cicinelli
Ettore
E
4th Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. Cicinelli@gynecology1.uniba.it
Tinelli
Raffaele
R
Lepera
Achiropita
A
Pinto
Vincenzo
V
Fucci
Mariarosa
M
Resta
Leonardo
L
D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004716:Endometritis / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000473:pathology; D015907:Hysteroscopy; D011127:Polyps / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index