%0 Journal Article
%T Adequacy of the Endometrial Samples Obtained by the Uterine Explora Device and Conventional Dilatation and Curettage: A Comparative Study
%A Maria Abdulrahim Arafah
%A Ammar Cherkess Al-Rikabi
%A Rakia Aljasser
%A Yaser Adi
%J International Journal of Reproductive Medicine
%D 2014
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2014/578193
%X Aims. Our aim is to compare the adequacy and diagnostic yield of samples obtained by the endometrial Explora Sampler I-MX120 with endometrial specimens obtained by conventional dilatation and curettage (D&C). Methods. A total of 1270 endometrial samples were received in the histopathology laboratories at the King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between 2007 and 2010. In the outpatient clinic, the Uterine Explora Model I was used to obtain 996 samples. The remaining 274 samples were obtained by conventional D&C. Sample adequacy and the clustering of inadequate specimens according to age groups by the two different techniques were compared and statistically analyzed. Results. Out of 1270 endometrial samples, 253 (19.9%) were inadequate. The Uterine Explora was used in 88.5% of these inadequate samples (253 samples), and the remaining 11.5% were obtained by D&C. The insufficient tissue incidence was higher with the Explora (17.6%) than with the D&C (2.2%) and the difference was statistically significant . The ages of the patients, as well as the clinical indications for the procedures, were recorded. Conclusion. This retrospective study demonstrated better specimen adequacy when D&C was used compared to the higher rate of sample insufficiency obtained with the Explora. 1. Introduction Abnormal uterine bleeding is one of the most common complaints presented to gynecologists. The majority of women with menorrhagia, postcoital bleeding, intermenstrual bleeding, or postmenopausal bleeding ultimately undergo diagnostic hysteroscopy with endometrial sampling as part of their assessment, particularly if symptoms persist or pelvic imaging suggests a uterine abnormality [1]. Dilatation and curettage (D&C) has been widely considered to be the method of choice for obtaining endometrial samples for histopathological evaluation. However, the needs for admission and general anesthesia and their associated costs have made this option less favorable [2]. In the outpatient setting, endometrial sampling is an effective and acceptable method for obtaining endometrial samples for histopathological assessment [3, 4]. However, approximately 10% of outpatient endometrial samples do not provide adequate tissue. Inadequate sampling is more problematic in postmenopausal women, for whom up to 68% of endometrial samples are reported to be inadequate [5]. In our institution, the only sampling tool available to perform the outpatient sampling procedure is the Uterine Explora Model I-MX120 (http://www.coopersurgical.com/) (Figure 1). This device utilizes a syringe
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijrmed/2014/578193/