title: Controlled fine needle biopsy of the uterine cervix during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cervical sampling could furnish tissue-based information regarding premature cervical ripening and effacement. This report assesses the effect of cervical fine needle biopsy (FNB) in the evaluation of cervical shortening.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study evaluating adverse events during the first week following FNB in women with short cervix. Patients with a cervical length(CL) ≤25 mm had a cervical FNB between 16 and 24 weeks. The risk of FNB was compared to a control group that was similarly evaluated but did not undergo FNB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and thirty-two FNBs were performed in 94 participants. The mean gestational age and CL at enrollment were 20.4 ± 2.3 weeks and 15.7 ± 0.6 mm. Within 7 days of FNB, there were 3 adverse events (2.3%) in the study group compared to 5 in the control group (2.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FNB of the cervix in high risk gravidae is feasible in clinical situations. It did not increase the risk of adverse events compared to women studied under a similar protocol without FNB.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Sean M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Keeler
authors.forename: Orion A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Rust
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kiefer
authors.forename: Wendy J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Prutsman
authors.forename: Christine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Proudfit
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naftolin
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D020070:Cervical Ripening / Q000502:physiology*; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies