Endocervical curettage at the time of colposcopic assessment of the uterine cervix

Abstract

Colposcopic examination of the uterine cervix remains the gold standard in the evaluation of patients with abnormal cervical cytology. Endocervical curettage (ECC) still forms a limited part of the overall assessment of women with abnormal cervical smears (Pap test) in the United States and in certain other parts of the world. To date, there are no properly randomized trials on the place of ECC in the overall care of women with abnormal Pap test. This review critically appraises the available evidence to look at the possible role of ECC in the complete evaluation of abnormal cervical smears.

Target audience: Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians.

Learning objectives: After completion of this article, the reader should be able to list the proposed indications for endocervical curettage (ECC), to summarize the data in support of the routine use of ECC at the time of colposcopy, and to outline the evidence against the use of routine ECC at colposcopy.