title: Hysteroscopic polypectomy in an office setting: specimen quality assessment for histopathological evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Polypectomy under hysteroscopic guidance is the treatment of choice for most endometrial polyps, but mechanical or electrical effects at the time of surgery may result in artifactual displacement of tissue with obvious resultant diagnostic problems. The purpose of this study was to record qualitative and quantitative histopathological artifacts and to assess differences between artifacts found in specimens obtained by different surgical polypectomy techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  During the period from November 2012 to March 2013, 90 retrospective consecutive polyp histopathological slides and their reports were identified for this study. Initially reported slides were reviewed blind by two histopathologists, who were not provided with any surgical details. The issued reports and those of the reviewing pathologists were then compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 90 reviewed polyp slides, there was complete agreement on the initial issued report in all cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Removal of endometrial polyps in an office setting using mechanical instruments, bipolar electrode or a hysteroscopic morcellator provides adequate tissue for histological diagnosis, and there is no difference between these three techniques for adequacy of histological examination, despite the effects of thermal injury or tissue fragmentation.
authors.affiliation: Palagi Freestanding Unit, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franchini
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Pathology, "S. Giovanni di Dio" Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zolfanelli
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Pathology, "S. Giovanni di Dio" Hospital, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallorini
authors.affiliation: Palagi Freestanding Unit, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giarrè
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Obstetrics & Gynecology, "S. Iacopo" Hospital, Pistoia, Florence and Pistoia, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fimiani
authors.affiliation: U.O.C. Obstetrics & Gynecology, "S. Iacopo" Hospital, Pistoia, Florence and Pistoia, Italy. Electronic address: floriop@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Florio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D016477:Artifacts; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Bipolar electrode; Grasping forceps; Morcellator; Polypectomy