title: Endometrial sampling devices for early diagnosis of endometrial lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endometrial carcinoma is the most common gynecologic malignancy in both developed and some developing countries. Unlike cervical cancer, for which there is routine screening, only patients symptomatic for endometrial carcinoma typically seek medical help for its diagnosis and treatment. Dilatation and curettage (D&C) has been the standard procedure for evaluating suspicious endometrial lesions. The discomfort and injury caused by the D&C procedure, however, restrict its use as a screening method for early diagnosis of endometrial lesions. High-risk endometrial cancer patients would benefit from an effective and low-cost screening test. In recent years, several endometrial devices have been developed and proposed as screening tools.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have reviewed and evaluated the literature relating to the endometrial sampling devices in clinical use or clinical trials, with the goal of comparing devices and identifying the most appropriate ones for screening for endometrial lesions. Eligible literature was identified from systematic PubMed searches, and the relevant data were extracted. Comments, letters, unpublished data, conference proceedings, and case reports were excluded from our search. Seventy-four articles on endometrial sampling devices were obtained for this review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main screening devices for endometrial carcinoma are aspiration devices (such as the Vabra aspirator), Pipelle, Tao Brush, and SAP-1 device. Among these devices, the Tao Brush is the most promising endometrial sampler for screening for endometrial lesions. However, its sampling insufficiency, cost, and unsuccessful insertion rate (20 % in nulliparous and 8 % in parous women) are problematic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A more accurate and low-cost endometrial sampler, with improved specimen sufficiency and higher sensitivity for endometrial lesions, needs tobe developed and clinically verified.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Jiang
authors: J
authors: Du
authors: Gongzhuling Health Workers High School, Gongzhuling, 136100, Jilin, China.
authors: Yaling
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Shulan
authors: S
authors: Lv
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Chao
authors: C
authors: Sun
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Xin
authors: X
authors: Dong
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: He
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Qurat
authors: Q
authors: Ulain
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Yongxing
authors: Y
authors: Yuan
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Xiaoqian
authors: X
authors: Tuo
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Nasra
authors: N
authors: Batchu
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.|Cardiovascular Research Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30310, USA.|Center of Big Data and Bioinformatics, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Song
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China. liqiling@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.|Center of Big Data and Bioinformatics, First Affiliated Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China. liqiling@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.
authors: Qiling
authors: Q
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D003944:Diagnostic Techniques, Obstetrical and Gynecological / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans
keywords: Aspiration; Biopsy; Brush; Endometrial lesions; Screening