Comparison of dilatation & curettage and endometrial aspiration biopsy accuracy in patients treated with high-dose oral progestin plus levonorgestrel intrauterine system for early-stage endometrial cancer

Gynecol Oncol. 2013 Sep;130(3):470-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2013.06.035. Epub 2013 Jun 30.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of dilatation & curettage (D&C) vs. endometrial aspiration biopsy in follow-up evaluation of patients treated with high-dose oral progestin plus levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) for early-stage endometrial cancer (EC).

Method: A prospective observational study was conducted with 11 patients with FIGO grade 1 or 2, clinical stage IA endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Patients were aged up to 40 years wishing to preserve fertility treated with high-dose oral progestin plus LNG-IUS. Treatment response assessment was done at three month intervals. Endometrial tissues were obtained via endometrial aspiration biopsy with LNG-IUS in place and D&C after removal of LNG-IUS. We identified 28 cases; the histologic results were compared. Kappa statistics were used to assess the agreement of two methods.

Results: Diagnostic concordance between examinations was assessed for 9 out of 28 cases examined (32.1%). These consisted of three cases with both examination results of normal, 3 cases with endometrioid adenocarcinoma, 1 case with complex endometrial hyperplasia, 2 cases with material insufficient for diagnosis. Endometrioid adenocarcinoma on D&C was diagnosed in 9 out of 28 cases, but from endometrial aspiration biopsy, only 3 of these 9 cases were diagnosed with endometrioid adenocarcinoma, giving the diagnostic concordance at 33% (kappa value=0.27). From endometrial aspiration biopsy, 17 out of 28 cases (60.7%) had material insufficiency for diagnosis.

Conclusion: In patients treated with high-dose oral progestin plus LNG-IUS for early-stage EC, endometrial aspiration biopsy with LNG-IUS in place may be not reliable as a follow-up evaluation method.

Keywords: Dilatation & curettage; Endometrial biopsy; Endometrial cancer; LNG-IUS; Progesterone.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage*
  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle
  • Dilatation and Curettage*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Endometrium / pathology*
  • Female
  • Fertility Preservation
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Intrauterine Devices, Medicated
  • Levonorgestrel / administration & dosage
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Organ Sparing Treatments
  • Progestins / administration & dosage
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Progestins
  • Levonorgestrel