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Review
. 2016 Dec;142(12):2515-2522.
doi: 10.1007/s00432-016-2215-3. Epub 2016 Aug 11.

Endometrial sampling devices for early diagnosis of endometrial lesions

Jiang Du  1 , Yaling Li  2 , Shulan Lv  1 , Qing Wang  1 , Chao Sun  1 , Xin Dong  1 , Ming He  1 , Qurat Ulain  1 , Yongxing Yuan  1 , Xiaoqian Tuo  1 , Nasra Batchu  1 , Qing Song  1   3   4 , Qiling Li  5   6
Affiliations
Review

Endometrial sampling devices for early diagnosis of endometrial lesions

Jiang Du et al. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2016 Dec.

Abstract

Purpose: 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 Comments, letters, unpublished data, conference proceedings, and case reports were excluded from our search.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.

Keywords: Aspiration; Biopsy; Brush; Endometrial lesions; Screening.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Ways to collect endometrium
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Three types of brushes for endometrial cytology. a Tao Brush; b Li Brush; c SAP-1 endometrial sampler
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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