Cytological Diagnosis of Endometrial Cancer and Preinvasive Endometrial Lesions

Abstract

The value of the Endo-Pap endometrial cell sampling device in the cytological assessment of the endometrium was compared with fractional curettage. 318 symptomatic women were studied consecutively, among whom were 42 with malignant tumors of the uterus. Satisfactory material for cytological diagnosis of the endometrial state was obtained in 96%, whereas only 91% of the histopathological material was suitable for interpretation. 35 of 36 women with primary cancers of the corpus uteri had atypical endometrial cytology (sensitivity 0.97). Of 42 uterine cancers, including one metastatic ovarian carcinoma, two adenocarcinomas and three squamous carcinomas of the cervix, 40 were detected by endometrial cytology (sensitivity 0.95). All 5 cases of high grade cytological atypia in endometrial polyps or endometrial hyperplasia could be diagnosed by abnormal endometrial cytology and 4 of 5 patients with adenomatous endometrial hyperplasia were diagnosed correctly. Endometrial cytology obtained with the Endo-Pap sampler is a simple and cheap diagnostic method with which to detect endometrial cancer. It is also effective for diagnosis of preinvasive endometrial lesions with highgrade cytological atypia. Clinicians should recognize that out-patient investigation of the endometrial state by endometrial cell sampling with the Endo-Pap is reliable and can usually replace fractional curettage.